WOCNews Issue 4 - 2010 by WOCN® Society

Issue 4 • 2010

Departments

Features

President’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2011 Annual Conference Keynote Speaker is Named . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Regional News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

WOCN Joins Facebook . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Public Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Director’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Cover Story WOCN Legislative Consultant, Chris Rorick, breaks down the new health care reform act. What’s in it for you as a WOC professional?

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President’s Letter

Harvest Time By Phyllis Bonham, PhD, MSN, RN, CWOCN, DPNAP, FAAN President, WOCN Society

As we prepare this issue of the WOCNews, we are entering the harvest season. As a Society we have much to harvest from the ongoing works of our almost 200 volunteers and staff that work all year to provide a bounty of products to assist members advance wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) nursing education, practice and research. All the committees and task forces are working on a wide variety of projects to benefit members. We are introducing use of social media (i.e., Facebook); exploring reimbursement options for the WOC nurse; developing a curriculum for wound treatment nurses to expand our educational outreach to nonBS nurses; assessing public policy/advocacy needs of our members; updating evidencebased clinical guidelines (i.e., venous, neuropathic); and developing fact sheets/best practice documents and new educational sessions for the Global Learning Center (GLC) that offer contact hours. Visit www.wocn.org and click on the Facebook icon to connect to other friends of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses 2

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Society (WOCN) or explore the GLC offerings under the Education link. Some of the GLC offerings are free to members. The WOCN Society through its legislative consultants and representative to the ANA Alliance continue to monitor and support national initiatives that affect or relate to WOC specialty nursing practice or represent a vital interest to nursing. Recognizing the importance of ostomy care, WOCN recently supported a House Congressional Resolution (H. Con Res. 245) introduced by Rep. Leonard Lance to advocate for improved reimbursement for ostomy prosthetic supplies. WOCN supported a letter to CMS brought forth by the Nursing Community (a forum of professional nursing organizations) to express support for the inclusion of nurse-managed health clinics in the definition of “community based provider” found in Section 1311(c)(1)(C) of the Affordable Care Act. Many ANA initiatives are consistent with the WOCN Society’s strategic

goals including: advancing the utilization of the full scope of practice for registered nurses/ APRNs; advancing nurses’ role in research, policy and evidence-based practices; and advocacy for the workforce/ workplace to pursue evidence to substantiate the economic value of nurses.

WOCN Society’s 43 rd Annual Conference, June 2011-New Orleans The National Conference Planning Committee (NCPC) has been hard at work planning the annual conference to be held in New Orleans, June 4-8, 2011. Some special features this year will be a Leadership Development Pre-conference Workshop on Saturday, June 4 for Regional/Affiliate elected officers. Also, during the special interest group sessions on Saturday, June 4, a program will be offered for “First-Time Attendees” to provide an orientation to the annual conference and facilitate networking opportunities.

Continued on page 4

WOCN Society Board and Committee Chairs Board

Committee Chairs

President 2009 – 2011 Phyllis Bonham, PhD, MSN, RN, CWOCN, DPNAP, FAAN Charleston, S.C. bonhamp@musc.edu

Accreditation Committee Bonny Flemister, MSN, RN, ANP, GNP-BC, CWOCN Kilgore, Texas bonnygae@mac.com

Nominations Committee Margaret T. Goldberg, MSN, RN, CWOCN DelRay Beach, Fla. margoldb@comcast.net

President-Elect 2009 – 2011 Kathleen G. Lawrence, MSN, RN, CWOCN Rutland, Vt. etnurse@rrmc.org

Continence Committee Laurie Callan, MSN, ARNP, CWOCN Clinton, Iowa llcallan@msn.com

Ostomy Committee Ginger Salvadalena, PhD(c), RN, CWOCN Libertyville, Ill. gsalva1@uic.edu

Secretary 2010 – 2012 Phyllis T. Kupsick, MSN, FNP-BC, CWOCN Albemarle, N.C. phylliskupsick@carolina. rr.com

Development Committee Laurie L. McNichol, MSN, RN, GNP, CWOCN Greensboro, N.C. mcnichol@triad.rr.com

Professional Practice Committee Myra F. Varnado, BS, RN, CDE, CWOCN New Orleans, La. mvarna@lsuhsc.edu

Treasurer 2010 – 2012 Ben Peirce, BA, RN, CWOCN Plantation, Fla. benjamin.peirce@gentiva. com

Education Committee Marilyn Murphy Shepherd, MSN, RN, CDE, CWOCN, CNE Quincy, Ill. mshepherd@brcn.edu

2010 – 2012 Carole Bauer, MSN, ANPBC, OCN, CWOCN Detroit, Mich. bauerc@karmanos.org

Marketing and Communications Committee Diane R. Maydick Youngberg, EdD, RN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN Staten Island, N.Y. dmaydick@gmail.com

2009 – 2011 Mary Jo Conley, BSN, RN, CWOCN Hackensack, N.J. mjc998@comcast.net

Membership Committee Dea Kent, MSN, RN, NP-C, CWOCN Kokomo, Ind. dea.kent@mail.com

2009 – 2011 Elizabeth Hiltabidel, MSN, RN, CWOCN Riverside, Calif. ehiltabidel@charter.net

National Conference Planning Committee Carolyn S. Watts, MSN, RN, CWON Nashville, Tenn. carolyn.watts@vanderbilt. edu

Directors

2010 – 2012 Regina F. Holmes, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CWOCN, CFCN Loris, S.C. rholmes@lorishealth.org

Public Policy Committee Suzanne Collins, MS, BSN, RN, CWOCN Norcross, Ga. suzanne.collins@molnlyckeus.com Scholarship Committee Kay Rickey, MS, RN, CNS, CWOCN Troy, Ohio krickey@uvmc.com Wound Committee Diane Deitz, MSN, ACNP, CWON Neptune, N.J. ddeitz49@aim.com

WOCN Society Mission The WOCN Society is a professional nursing organization that supports its members by promoting educational, clinical, and research opportunities to advance the practice and guide the delivery of expert healthcare to individuals with wounds, ostomies and incontinence. Educational Editor Marjorie Groom, MSHCA, BSN, RN, CWOCN et2@norcom2000.com Executive Vice President Nicolette Zuecca, CAE nzuecca@ahint.com Assistant Executive Director Vincent Gangemi III vgangemi@ahint.com WOCNews is a publication of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) 15000 Commerce Parkway Suite C Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 888/224-WOCN www.wocn.org Publication Date: November, 2010

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President’s Letter • Continued from page 2 National Great Comebacks Event: We are excited that our members will have an opportunity to participate in the 2011 National Great Comebacks Event that will be held on Saturday evening, June 4 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. This is an elegant, dinner event that recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of individuals living with ostomies and the recipient of the National Great Comebacks Award will be recognized and honored. The event will be open to WOCN members, free of charge, for those who wish to attend.

Cycling for Scholarships

To increase scholarship funds available in the WOCN Society Foundation, WOCN is sponsoring a special fundraising event in conjunction with Dr. Katherine Jeter. To raise funds, Dr. Jeter will be “Cycling for Scholarships” in a crosscountry bicycle tour. She will be leaving San Diego, Calif. on March 4, 2011, and travel across the southern tier of the United States, and arrive in St. Augustine, Fla. on April 29, 2011. The goal is to raise at least $200,000 by the end of Dr. Jeter’s ride. Dr. Jeter has kicked off the fundraising effort 4

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with a personal $500 donation. Her husband Jack contributed some of his original artwork to be auctioned off at some of the regional meetings and all proceeds will be contributed to the “Cycling for Scholarships” fundraiser. Dr. Jeter is an icon of our Society and an inspiration to us all with her “can do attitude.” The Society is appreciative of Dr. Jeter’s efforts and believes this event to be a great opportunity to accomplish two goals: • Raise money for the WOCN Society Foundation scholarship fund. • Create awareness for the WOCN Society and WOC specialty nursing practice. Involvement of the Regional/ Affiliate leadership and all members is greatly needed and encouraged to insure the success of this fundraiser. Additional information will be forthcoming from the Society about how to promote and participate in this exciting project. Visit the WOCN Foundation website at www.wocnfoundation.org to see a video of Dr. Jeter discussing the cycling event and click on the Donate link to support the WOCN Foundation and Dr. Jeter as she cycles across the U.S.

In addition to the fundraising efforts, the scholarship application forms and process for applying are being revised and updated by the Scholarship Committee. Plans are underway to convert to an online scholarship application process in the upcoming year.

Practice Drives Research and Research Informs Practice.

The Center for Clinical Investigation (CCI) continues the valuable work to support the research and evidencebase integral to our practice. A new session to showcase research as well as an exciting, interactive pre-conference research session will be offered at the annual conference in June. CCI provides invaluable assistance and support for members to conduct research. Several grant opportunities are available for members http:// www.wocn.org/Research_and_ Funding/. We encourage all members to consider making a contribution to support the “Members Only Research Grant,” which is currently under-funded. The “Members Only Research Grant” is important to

support, because unlike the other sponsored grants, the investigator can determine the topic of interest for the research. You can support research by our members by going to the WOCN Foundation website at www.wocnfoundation.org and clicking on the Donate link.

ANA Position Statement for the Order of Credentials for Professional Nurses

The WOCN Society’s board of directors recently adopted the recommendations from the American Nurses Association (ANA) for the order of credentials for all Society publications. Credentials designate levels of education, licensure, certification and professional achievement. According to the ANA Position Statement (ANA, 2009), the listing of credentials by nurses communicates credibility and competence to colleagues and consumers of nursing care. ANA recommends that nurses use only accepted credentials and a standardized order of credentials after their names to ensure consistency and

professionalism across nursing settings: • Education (highest earned degree first) • License (designation required by the state) • National certification • Awards and honors • Other certifications ANA states that credentials should be listed as capital letters without periods between letters, but with a comma between each credential. Following are examples of the correct order of credentials: • Nancy B. Jones MSN, RN, APRN, CWOCN • Nancy B. Jones PhD, RN, APRN, CWCN, FAAN • Nancy B. Jones BSN, RN, CWON

Thanks for a Bountiful Harvest

Thanks to all the volunteers and our management staff who do the work of the WOCN Society. As members and officers of the Society, we owe a debt of gratitude to all the hard working volunteers on the committees and task forces (members, chairs/co-chairs) who work tirelessly for the bounty of products and services that WOCN has to offer-Thank You! Have a great fall and wonderful holiday season. I hope to see you in New Orleans in June 2011 as we convene the WOCN Society’s 43rd Annual Conference. Join us to Savor the Experience as we meet together as colleagues to learn, network and celebrate this great specialty practice of WOC nursing. u

ANA states that national certifications are those awarded by nationally recognized Reference: ANA (2009). Credentials for the accredited certifying bodies professional nurse: Determining a and includes recognition of standard order of credentials for the continued education in a professional nurse. Retrieved from http:// specified area of practice or www.nursingworld.org/psprocredentials. aspx, October 10, 2010. professional achievement such as CWOCN, CWCN, COCN, CCCN, etc. Therefore, nurses only use credentials after their names that are officially awarded/approved by recognized organizations.

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Regional News

News From the WOCN World Southeast Region

successful. The members had a day of enlightenment with The Southeast Region has opportunity for networking and been fortunate to have many education. Various practice members involved at the issues were presented and national level. Congratulations to Ben Peirce on his re-election discussed by experts. Dr. Mikel Gray came in from Virginia and to treasurer, to Phyllis Kupsick presented on incontinence on her re-election to secretary and to Regina Holmes – director associated dermatitis. Janet Davis traveled to us from area #4. Houston and presented on fistula management. Ginger Our dear friend and colleague, Salvadalena, CWOCN, Vi Poteete has retired after 26 presented setting up research years of WOC nursing. Vi was projects and Dr. Patris Toney a mentor, role model and welltalked about lower leg and respected clinician. She was also involved for many years at foot problems. Mimi Zeigler, CWOCN, of the Rehab the local and national levels. Institute of Chicago presented wound clinic development. By the time you read this, we Ninety-eight members attended will have completed our 2010 and were provided with six SER conference, Closing the contact hours. Gap: Evidence, Knowledge & Practice, held in Concord, The Affiliate held its annual N.C. Thank you Trudy Huey, elections with the offices of conference chairperson and secretary and treasurer being the N.C. WOC nurses. It’s not voted on. Usha Patel was too early to begin thinking about next years conference in reelected as secretary and Mary Vercillino was elected treasurer. Chattanooga, Tenn. Hold the Our thanks go out to our exiting dates: Sept. 15-18, 2011. Treasurer Mary Rohan for her terrific work! Northern Illinois

Affiliate

Northern Illinois Affiliate Chapter of WOCN conducted its 13th annual Professional Education Day on Sept. 23, 2010. The program was very 6

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Mideast Region

The state of Indiana hosted the Mideast Region’s fall conference on Sept. 2325, 2010. Indianapolis Hyatt

Regency Hotel was the playing ground for the wound, ostomy and continence nurse’s: Champions of the Cause. A full schedule of continuing education talks started on Thursday addressing the Legal Implications Documentation of the WOC Patient; Bowel and Bladder Reconstruction; Research on Indwelling Catheter Management and more. The day ended with a tailgate party and kick off of the grand exhibits. The hotel was fill with 162 sports minded fans dressed in their favorite team jerseys. Heels were banned as everyone wore comfortable jeans and capri attire. Friday the meeting continued with rousing lectures to include Nutrition, Solving the Myth, Understanding the Many NPWT Products and Community Care Infections. During the Lunch with Exhibitors, Dea Kent, Mideast Regional president recognized WOC nurses with memberships of 20 years or longer. Mary Candlish was presented with the Manufacturing Representative of the Year Award. The business meeting ended the lectures with over 90 fans in attendance. Awards were presented to Jessica Kitterman the Shining Star for her work

to reduce nosocomial ulcers by 53 percent in one year; Barbara Pieper was awarded Professional Educator of the Year for her work in education as well as patient care; Diane Lenk exemplified the role of the WOC nurse and received the WOC Nurse of the Year Award; Karen Granby was nominated by five of her fellow MER members and received the WOC Lifetime Achievement Award; Michelle Ashman was awarded an Advance Practice Scholarship for $1,000; Betty Jordan received the Jeff Bish Award for $500; and Mary Arnold-Long received the Excellence in Writing Award. After Dea Kent passed the gavel to Cecilia Krusling, Dea received a handmade quilt wall hanging with the Mideeast Region logo and five butterflies representing each of the states represented in the region, made by Cecilia Krusling. The evening challenged the fans with tricycle races, sumo wrestling, gambling tables and more. The conference wrapped up on Saturday with a challenge from Dea Kent to mentor not only our upcoming WOC nurses but also fellow staff nurses. Dorothy Doughty inspired the audience to get out of the sideline and make a plan to sustain our practice recognizing

that working harder is not the answer, keeping outcomes is.

Newly elected board, from left, Linda Stricker, trustee; Judy Mosier, secretary; Cecilia Krusling, president; Dea Kent, past persident; Sharon Lepper, trustee; Lisa Kirk, trustee and Monica Koch. trustee.

Cecilia Krusling, president presenting MER quilt wall hanging to Dea Kent new past president

South Central Region

Little Rock, Ark. “ROCKED” for our fall conference this year. The Peabody Hotel was such a unique site and the Planning Committee did a wonderful job. Be sure to check out the SCR website, www.scrwocn.org, “scrapbook” for photos from the conference. Our newly elected officers are President Janet Davis, Treasurer Jean Cefalu and Nominations Chair Tina Meyers.

SCR WOCN of the Year was Shanna Fraser, Educator of the Year was Laurie Hood, Rookie of the Year was Oscar Solis and the Manufacturer/ Representative of the Year was Barbara Vallenari (KCI). Congratulations to our award winners for all of their outstanding work. Tina Meyers was presented with the President’s Award this year. She presented five posters at 2010 WOCN/WCET Joint Conference in Phoenix and published two articles: the first in the JWOCN regarding heel pressure ulcers and plantar flexion contractures and the second article in, Nursing, addressing the importance of a wound care program. Notable achievements by our SCR members include: Jill Conwill received the Clinical Excellence Award at the 2010 HealthTrust University Conference in Las Vegas; Kim Bookout graduated in the inaugural DNP class at TWU and Shannon McCord from Texas Children’s Hospital recently was named director of patient care services at West Campus. Both are past graduates of the MD Anderson WOCN Education Program. Joan Flynn was honored with the Smith-Nephew 2009 Clinical Achievement of the www.wocn.org

Regional News Year and Smith - Nephew 2009 President’s Challenge Award.

and distributed surveys to all the local (on island) home care agencies to explore the need We had a meeting with the for ostomy education. It is Memphis, Tenn. WOCN’s at projected that the home care our conference and we have nurses are interested in learning welcomed them as part of SCR more about ostomy care, but membership. We hope to have a we are awaiting the results of conference in Memphis, Tenn. in the survey and potentially the the near future. “next step” in increasing ostomy care awareness in our state. Mary Brown was presented with the Beverly G. Hampton The Education Committee has Memorial Scholarship by worked hard to put together Tabatha Schroeder in July. our annual conference, which NIWI application is right was held on Thursday, Oct. 28, around the corner so if you 2010 at the Hale Koa Hotel. are interested drop Tabatha a Shelly Taylor, Jane Fellows and note and stay tuned. Patricia Nishimoto provided the wound and ostomy updates and the attendees had “hands-on” Hawaii Affiliate experience to learn advanced Aloha! Weather in Hawaii is fistula management. Our finally beginning to cool down local oncology CNS, Patricia for the winter months; we are approaching our cooler months Nishimoto had an entertaining with temperatures ranging from discussion of sexuality with 70 to 80 degrees with a few dips an ostomate which helped to instill the importance of into the 60s. Despite the warm addressing sexuality amongst summer our affiliate has been this population. busy – seven teens and three graduates (who went to serve as counselors) spent a most memorable time in Cincinnati at the Youth Rally in July. Thanks to the Planning Committee, nurses and many counselors, everyone had a fabulous time! Big Mahalo to the staff at the Youth Rally!!! The Community Service Committee also developed 8

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Pacific Coast Region

Pacific Coast Region will be having our annual conference Feb. 11-13, 2011 at the Paris/ Balley’s Hotel in Las Vegas. We will be having speakers on complex issues regarding wounds, ostomies and continence. You can register online at www.pcr.org or if you would like more information you can contact Liz Harvey at edharvey@ainet.com. The Pacific Coast Region would also like to welcome our new board members: Cheryl Bartholomew president, Teresa Renteria secretary, Daphne Weiland education coordinator and Jennifer Reynolds communications coordinator. Our new board members will be taking office in January 2011.

Rocky Mountain Region

Congratulations to CAPT Candace Cotton! Candace was awarded the Rocky Mountain With a new year and our Region WOC Nurse of the Year annual retreat we will be Award at our fall conference. exploring innovative ways of Candace is a clinical nurse sharing our knowledge and experiences with nurses and the specialist at Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, N.M. community. Hope you all have She spends most of her time in an awesome 2011! direct patient care and works closely with the physician staff. Hauoli Makahiki Hou! She is instrumental in delivering (Happy New Year) timely wound and ostomy care to clinic patients who often

have to travel great distances for their health care. Candace was nominated by a physician colleague who described her as “gentle and considerate towards her patients as well as to her co-workers.” Candace provides education for providers and RNs at her facility and other Navajo clinics and hospitals. She has received the Geriatric Interdisciplinary Certificate from the University of New Mexico. CAPT Cotton is a wonderful asset to her patients, colleagues and to the WOCN Society. THANK YOU Candace for your dedication to our nursing specialty! www.rmr-wocn.com

New England Region

The New England Region awarded their WOCN/ET of the Year Award to Debra Dubuc APRN, CWON at their annual fall conference in Danvers, Mass. This award is given to the nurse in the region who exemplifies outstanding practice in the area of WOC/ET nursing. This nurse must also demonstrate professional commitment to the role of WOCN/ET nursing, be active in the regional activities of the organization, and display excellence in professional skills and interpersonal relationships with clients, families and other professionals. Debra is a

graduate of Yale University and is employed at the Veterans Administration Connecticut Healthcare System. Debra provides care, education and consultation to both the

inpatient and outpatient setting. For the past four years she has been the chairman of the New England Region WOCN Political Action Committee. u

Northeast Region Hi All, I wanted to let you know I finished up my doctorate at Columbia Univ. and accepted a position at the American Nurses Association’s National Center for Nursing Quality (NCNQ). I will be the Senior Policy Fellow in the NCNQ, which is directed by Isis Montalvo, RN, MS, MBA. The NCNQ focuses on patient safety and quality nursing care and nurses’ work life. Without the support over the years by the NERWOCN Board, Metro NY WOCN, and national WOCN, my development through learning about health policy advocacy wouldn’t have been possible. Thanks to each of the current NERWOCN Board members, particularly Cheryl Bealer, as well as past NERWOCN Board members (Deb Patterson, Sue Wood, Beth Ann Taylor and many others), the Metro NY President and President Elect (Mary Brennan and Vashti Livingston), and my WOC nurse mentor (Terry Haus). The NERWOCN Board supported me in the NY Legislative Rep role, was open to paying for ANA membership to support the work of the legislative reps, and supported me in my fellowship at the Washington Health Policy Institute at George Mason University. Thanks again to each of you. I will work hard to represent all nurses, including WOC nurses, in my new role. Please keep me informed of any WOC nurse issues. Also, a special thanks to Barbara Bedell for being such a loyal and dedicated Metro NY Trustee. Best regards, Maureen Dailey

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And the Winner is… The 2011 Annual Conference Keynote Speaker is Named! Debi Maines, CMP Director of Meetings, WOCN Society

He recently retired from the University of WisconsinLa Crosse, where he was a professor of psychology and education; he also retired from the practice of law, to serve full-time as president and chief executive officer of The National Association for the Humor Impaired.

Dr. Stuart Robertshaw, better known throughout the nation as “Dr. Humor”, will be presenting the opening keynote session entitled “The Healing Power of Humor” during the WOCN Society’s 43rd Annual Conference to be held in New Orleans, on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Dr. Robertshaw will share with you his personal journey which began in September 1987, when he started a review of the research on the benefits of humor. On June 28, 1990, he announced the formation of the National Association for the Humor Impaired. 10

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Over the past 10 years, he has spoken on humor to a wide variety of including the FBI, CIA, IRS, Westinghouse Corporation, the American Hospital Association and more than 600 businesses, medical and educational groups in 28 states.

The National Association for the Humor Impaired has received national attention from the press in over 144 newspapers, 180 radio stations and has been featured in magazines such as Family Circle and Mature Outlook. Dr. Robertshaw will share with you what he has learned about the psychological and physiological benefits of humor and laughter as they relate to working with patients and to the necessity of taking care of ourselves. u

WOCN Bulletin Board: WOCN 43rd Annual Conference June 4 - 8, 2011 2011 Conference Registration and Housing Open January 2011 44th Annual Conference June 9 - 13, 2012

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Member Spotlight

Where are they now? For years, the WOCN Society has awarded scholarships to qualified and motivated health care professionals interested in joining the WOC specialty. These nurses play a pivotal role in the care and treatment of our patients, many of whom readily attest to the contribution these nurses make to their wellbeing. Included in this article are compelling accounts of the life-changing impact WOCN Scholarships have had on the lives of three WOC caregivers.

Scholarships and tuition reimbursement are increasingly hard to come by in these difficult financial times. I am forever grateful to WOCN for the tuition assistance they provided to help me reach my educational goals. My situation, I am sure, is not unique in that there are others who want to pursue WOC nursing education or fellow WOC Shortly after receiving the WOCN nurses’ who want to pursue scholarship, my husband’s work graduate education and are hours were cut back, and he was also feeling the effects of the eventually laid off. Our family economy on their personal lives. became more dependent upon By making scholarship money Their stories take on an even my income for our survival. The available to those who want to greater significance as the scholarship allowed us to pay achieve these goals, more WOC WOCN Society and Dr. Katherine for my fall 2009 tuition at the nurses will become available for Jeter prepare to launch their beginning of the semester, and I patients with wound, ostomy most comprehensive fundraising used my tuition reimbursement and continence needs. initiative to date. With the goal from work to pay for the next of raising $200,000, WOCN’s semester before it began. This Sincerely, Cycling for Scholarships is scholarship helped me worry Bridget Mejza, BSN, RN, an important way to ensure about one less thing while going CWOCN stories such as these continue to school, and it prevented the for generations to come. Here’s need for me to pick up extra fter working more than what they have to say… hours at work in order to pay 20 years in the financial for school. services industry, I n August 2009, I received decided that I wanted to give a Wound, Ostomy and On May 14, 2010, I graduated to others some of the blessings Continence Nurses Society from Sacred Heart University that I had received in my life. The (WOCN) advanced scholarship in Fairfield, Conn. as a family following month, I heard story to use toward my graduate nurse practitioner with a master’s after story about a shortage education. I had been a wound, degree in nursing. Between of nurses, so I began to think ostomy and continence (WOC) savings, tuition reimbursement I was destined to head in that nurse for a little over a year, and and scholarships, I have done it direction. Since I already had a had been going to graduate without going into debt! I’m able degree in another field, I qualified school part-time to receive a to function as a WOC nurse in an to apply to an accelerated master’s degree as a family advanced practice role now. BSN program. The accelerated

nurse practitioner while working full-time and raising a family. My husband and I were bound and determined to pay for my additional education without taking on more debt, and funded it primarily with some tuition reimbursement from my employer, and the rest from what we could squirrel away.

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program was intense, with 19 credit hours per semester, along with clinical time. I graduated from Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College in May 2008. I passed the NCLEX exam in July 2008.

and emotional well being is at stake. I believe that I can better serve my patients by learning as much as I can about wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) nursing. I wanted to jump-start my level of knowledge and skills by I work in a small 79-bed hospital. completing the WOC program, Because of its size, most of and becoming certified. the employees know each other, and it seems like a large My hospital currently has a partfamily. I work on a “specialty time wound and ostomy nurse; surgery” floor. The types of who is not available every day. surgery patients we care for So in addition to helping my include primarily colorectal, patients on a daily basis, I serve GI, GU and plastics. By far, the as an added resource to other largest percentage of patients floors in the hospital. are colorectal. During the time that I’ve been on this floor, I’ve Due to changing economic found that my favorite patients times, my husband found are those with new ostomies. himself unemployed in 2009. When caring for these patients, He elected to start his own a nurse uses a variety of skills. computer consulting business. The new ostomy patient needs Not only is the business not physical care, of course. Equally yet profitable, we continue to important to these patients is deposit some of our own funds to address their psychological, into the account to maintain a esteem and emotional needs, solvent cash flow. In addition, as well as those of their families. my current salary is half of what I’ve found that I am well suited it was in my previous career. to this floor, having a calm We had already refinanced our demeanor, a caring touch and residence in order to be able to the ability to teach patients how afford our home. We realized that to care for themselves. furthering education would be an additional financial burden, but I have always been in the habit felt that this was an important of continually learning new skills one-time expense. Receiving a to improve my performance, Wound, Ostomy and Continence even in my previous occupation. Nurses Society (WOCN) It seems more important now scholarship helped to ease my than ever to continue that mind regarding finances, and practice, when others’ physical allowed me to better focus on

learning new skills. My patients and I are grateful to WOCN for helping me help them. Sincerely, Janet Meyer

became a certified wound, ostomy and continence nurse in October of 2000, after attending Wicks Educational Associates in Carlisle, Pa. in January and February of 2000. At the time I was working for a home health agency in Western Pa. They convinced me to attend Wicks and offered to pay my tuition, as well as room and board. They were very supportive, and saw something in me that I did not even see at the time. I was also attending Carlow University in Pittsburgh to obtain my master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner. I was planning to become a family nurse practitioner, wound and ostomy care was the furthest thing from my mind. I planned to leave the home care agency once I graduated. But I fell in love with wound and ostomy care! I found the course fascinating, and could see that my interventions with these patients were very rewarding. Once I graduated from Carlow University, I found a job traveling to nursing homes and helping to care for patients with wound www.wocn.org

Member Spotlight issues as well as complex ostomies. I also work in hospitalbased outpatient clinics, see inpatients, and will make home visits if it is a real hardship for the person to get out of his or her home. My current practice stresses the use of evidence-based practice, and the need to follow standards of care. I began to “dabble” in some research myself to support some of these standards, as I was frustrated to see many wound “experts” employ care that was not conducive to healing or quality patient wound management. I was specifically interested in the correct management of heel ulcers. I began to see many practitioners debride stable heel eschar with no thought or foresight to the outcomes. They obviously were not aware of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel’s recommendations on heel eschar management. Thus in 2006 I began to track all my patients who had stable heel

eschar to see if the outcomes were positive when these standards were followed. I began to hear about doctoral level education for nurse practitioners. (It is being developed and promoted as the future entry level of practice for nurse practitioners.) While I would have been grandfathered in, I felt the need to obtain the degree, mainly to help me in my rudimentary attempts at doing research in this field. However, the cost of this education was high. I decided to apply anyway, but began to think about getting some financial support. I was delighted to see the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) offering educational support and was amazed when I was awarded an advanced scholarship to help with my schooling!

of analyzing data on over 300 patients, and hope to publish my results in the near future. It is my hope that this research will support the anecdotal evidence that the NPUAP authors have used in their recommendations, and that it will encourage wound care providers to follow these guidelines. I am always appreciative of the support that WOCN has given me over the years. Their professionalism and educational offerings are second to none, and I am proud to be a part of the organization. Sincerely, Mary Shannon, CRNP, CWOCN Doctoral Candidate at Robert Morris University; set to graduate May 2011

For more information about WOCN’s Cycling for Scholarship or to donate to I have been able to take the data the fundraiser please, visit that I have collected and am www.wocnfoundation.org. u using it for my capstone project. I currently am in the process

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www.wocn.org

Public Policy

Breaking Down the PPACA Nursing and Health Reform Christopher C. Rorick, MPA WOCN Legislative Consultant

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010. This law will enact sweeping changes to almost every facet of the health care system over the next 10 years. The law makes changes that will impact providers, insurers, consumers, Medicare & Medicaid, and payment policies. For the purposes of this document we wanted to provide readers with an overview of those provisions in the new law that will impact the nursing community as well as their facilities.

law. Readers can find the full legislative language for each section here: (http://www. gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW111publ148/html/PLAW111publ148.htm.)

to adjust this amount based on cost of attendance increases.

Section 5203 Health care workforce loan repayment programs—Establishes a loan repayment program for individuals who are willing to Nursing practice in a pediatric medical Workforce or surgical subspecialty or in a Provisions child mental or behavioral health Policy makers recognized the care for at least two years in an need for an increased workforce underserved area. Recipients, to care for the millions of which include psychiatric nurses, consumers who would be added social workers and professional/ to the ranks of the insured under school counselors, are eligible PPACA. This -- in conjunction to receive $35,000 a year in loan with an already existing repayments for participation in workforce shortage within the an accredited pediatric specialty This article is intended to provide nursing community -- led to a residency or fellowship. HHS is number of provisions designed an overview of those sections of to give priority to applicants who to increase the number of nurses the law most relevant to Wound, are or will be working in a school in the coming years. Those Ostomy and Continence Nurses setting, have familiarity with provisions are as follows: Society (WOCN) members. evidence-based health care, and The information focuses on can demonstrate financial need. Section 5202 Nursing student three main aspects of the law: loan program—Updates the nursing workforce provisions, Section 5204 Public health loan amounts for the Nursing payment reform provisions workforce recruitment Student Loan program and and facility specific provisions. and retention programs— after 2012 the secretary (of Each provision is given a brief Establishes Public Health the Department of Health and summary and policy goal of Workforce Loan Repayment Human Services) has discretion Program to assure an adequate the language contained in the 16

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supply of public health professionals to eliminate workforce shortages in public health agencies. HHS will repay up to one-third of loans incurred by a public health or health professions student in exchange for an agreement to accept employment with a public health agency for at least three years. Those serving in priority service areas may qualify for additional loan repayment incentives at department’s discretion. Section 5205 Allied health workforce recruitment and retention programs— Authorizes an Allied Health Loan Forgiveness Program to assure there is an adequate supply of allied health professionals to eliminate work force shortages at public health agencies, acute care facilities, ambulatory care facilities and other underserved health facilities. Section 5206 Grants for State and local programs— Authorizes HHS to make grants to accredited educational institutions that support scholarships for mid-career public health and allied health professionals who seek additional training in their respective fields.

Section 5207 Funding for National Health Service Corps—Increasing funding for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and extends authorization of appropriations for the Corps thru 2015. For FY2016 and beyond, a formula for funding is established to tie increased costs in health care to the number of individuals residing in health professions shortage areas. Section 5209 Elimination of cap on commissioned corps—Removes cap of 2800 commissioned officers in National Health Services Corps regular corps. Section 5210 Establishing a Ready Reserve Corps— Reconstitutes the Public Health Service Corps into the commissioned Regular Corps and a Ready Reserve Corps for service in time of national emergencies. Section 5301 Training in family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, and physician assistantship— Establishes a grant program for hospitals, medical schools, academically and affiliated PA training programs to develop and operate accredited training programs for the provision of primary care.

Section 5302 Training opportunities for direct care workers—Establishes a three year grant program under which an institution of higher education can subsidize training of individuals at that institution who are willing to serve as direct care workers in a long-term or chronic care setting for at least two years after completion of their training. Section 5305 Geriatric education and training; career awards; comprehensive geriatric education—Authorizes HHS to award grants to advanced practice nurses who are pursuing a doctorate or other advanced degree in geriatrics and who, as a condition of accepting a grant, will agree to teach or practice in the field of geriatrics, long-term care or chronic care management, for a minimum of five years. Section 5309 Nurse education, practice, and retention grants—Adds two new grant programs specifically focused on nurse retention. One will authorize HHS to award grants to accredited nursing schools or health facilities to promote career advancement among nurses. The second will permit HHS to make awards to nursing schools or health facilities that can demonstrate enhanced collaboration www.wocn.org

Public Policy Section 5312 Authorization of appropriations for parts B through D of title VIII— Authorizes $338 million in appropriations to carry out nursing work force development Section 5310 Loan repayment programs in FY 2010. FY 2011and scholarship program— 2016 will be funded according to Expands Nurse Loan Repayment what HHS determines as “such and Scholarship Programs to sums as may be necessary” to provide loan repayment for carry out these programs. students who serve for at least two years as a faculty member at Section 5404 Workforce an accredited nursing school. diversity grants—Expands the work force diversity grant Section 5311 Nurse faculty programs by permitting such loan program—Increases the grants to be used for diploma Nurse Faculty Loan Program and associate degree nurses amounts from $30,000 to to enter bridge or degree $35,000 in FY 2010 and FY completion programs or for 2011, declares that the amount student scholarships and of these loans will thereafter be stipend programs for accelerated adjusted to provide for cost-ofnursing degree programs. attendance increases for yearly This statute instructs HHS to loan rates and the aggregate consider recommendations loan. Creates new authority to from the National Advisory permit HHS to enter into an Council on Nurse Education agreement with individuals who and Practice and to consult hold unencumbered RNs and with nursing associations. who have already completed, or are currently enrolled in, a Section 5507 Demonstration master’s or doctorate training projects to address health program for nursing. HHS will professions workforce needs; provide up to $10,000 a year to extension of family-to-family master’s recipients and $20,000 health information centers— a year to those who earn a Establishes a demonstration doctorate so long as these grant program to provide individuals spend at least four educational and training years out of a six year period as opportunities for low-income a full-time faculty member at an individuals for positions in the accredited nursing school. health care field that pay well and are expected to be in high and communication among nurses and other health care professionals. Priority directed towards applicants that have not previously received an award.

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demand. Program will primarily serve State TANF recipients, but HHS required to award at least three demonstration grants to eligible entities that are Indian tribes, tribal organizations or tribal colleges and universities. Section 5509 Graduate nurse education demonstration— Appropriates $50 million a year FY 2012 thru FY 2015 to establish a graduate nurse education demonstration program in Medicare. Hospitals selected will be reimbursed for educational and clinical instruction costs attributed to training advanced practice nurses to provide primary/ preventive care, translational care, chronic care management, as well as any other nursing services appropriate for the Medicare eligible population. Those hospitals selected will partner with community based care settings and accredited nursing schools to undertake the demonstration program and will reimburse partners for their share of costs. Section 10501—Permits faculty at public health schools that offer PA education programs to obtain faculty loan repayment under the work force diversity program. Also makes other improvements to the NHSC program, such as a provision to increase the loan repayment amount, allowing

half-time service and permitting teaching to count for as much as 20 percent of the service commitment to the NHSC.

Pilot and Incentive Payment Program Provisions:

structured Accountable Care Organization (ACO) to manage and coordinate care for Medicare fee for service beneficiaries.

Section 3024 Independence at home demonstration program—Creates the Independence at Home In addition to policies aimed at Demonstration Program increasing the number of nurses, for chronically ill Medicare policy makers also sought to beneficiaries in order to test a more closely integrate nursing payment incentive and service into new payment pilot programs delivery system that would utilize that would offer incentives physician and nurse practitioner to primary and chronic care directed, home-based primary managements as well as provide care teams with the aim of alternatives to the current feereducing expenditures and for-service programs. Payment improving health outcomes. revisions are as follows: Section 3501 Health care Section 2703 State option delivery system research; to provide health homes Quality improvement technical for enrollees with chronic assistance—Establishes a conditions—Creates a state Center for Quality Improvement option under Medicaid to provide and Patient Safety within the coordinated care through a Agency for Healthcare Research “health home” for individuals and Quality (AHRQ). This center afflicted with chronic conditions. will support the identification States could receive 90 percent of best practices for quality of the funding needed to improvement in the delivery support Medicaid enrollees of health care services by who designate a provider or identifying healthcare providers team of medical professionals that employ best practices and as their health home through finding ways to translate these Federal Medical Assistance practices rapidly and effectively Percentages (FMAP). into practice elsewhere. The center will establish a Quality Section 3022 Medicare shared Improvement Network Research savings program—Establishes Program to support research a shared savings program under on healthcare delivery system which a group of providers and improvement. The director suppliers may form a legally

of AHRQ, under this section, will also be directed to award technical assistance grants to struggling health care providers to aid in the implementation and adoption of best practices identified by the center. Section 3502 Establishing community health teams to support the patient-centered medical home—Authorizes HHS to establish a grant program for states/state designated entities to establish community-based interdisciplinary, interprofessional teams to support primary care practices within a certain area. Health teams must support patient-centered medical homes, defined as a mode of care that includes personal physicians, whole person orientation, coordinated and integrated care and evidenceinformed medicine. Section 5208 Nurse-managed health clinics—Authorizes $50 million in grants for the cost of operation of Nurse-Managed Health Clinics (NHMC) that provide comprehensive primary care or wellness services without regard to income or insurance status of patients. NHMCs must provide care to underserved or vulnerable populations and be associated with an academic department of nursing, qualified health center or independent nonprofit health www.wocn.org

Public Policy or social services agency. Also establishes a new program to support nurse-managed health centers, authorizes to be appropriated $50 million for FY 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for FY 2011-2014.

data, hours of care provided per resident per day, staffing turnover and tenure. Section 6105 directs the secretary to create a standardized complaint form and requires states to establish a complaint resolution process, as well as providing Section 6301 Patient-Centered whistleblower protection. Both Outcomes Research— provisions are effective within Establishes non-profit Patient one year of enactment. Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Purpose of institute Section 3004 Quality reporting will be to assist patients, for long-term care hospitals, physicians, purchasers and inpatient rehabilitation policy-makers in making hospitals, and hospice informed health decisions. programs—Requires quality reporting programs for long Facility Specific Provisions term care hospitals, inpatient Finally, PPACA makes facility rehabilitation facilities, and specific changes including hospice providers in 2014. HHS provisions directly impacting must issue regulations by Oct. hospice and palliative care 1, 2012 that will list the specific facilities, those provision follow: quality reporting measures that must be reported. Providers Sections 6101-6121—Require who do not participate in the Medicare Skilled Nursing program would be subject to a Facilities (SNFs) and Medicaid reduction in their annual market nursing facilities to disclose basket update. information on their ownership and organizational structure Section 10325 Revision to government authorities. to skilled nursing facility Mandates that such facilities prospective payment system— implement compliance and Delays implementation of certain ethics program within three skilled nursing facility Version years of enactment. Section 4 of the Resource Utilization 6103 directs the Nursng Home Groups (RUG-IV) published in Compare Medicare website to the Federal Register on Aug. 11, release staffing data for each 2009 payment system changes facility, including resident census by one year to Oct. 1, 2011.

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Section 10326 Pilot testing pay-for-performance programs for certain Medicare providers—Directs HHS to conduct a separate pilot program under Medicare to test the implementation of a valuebased purchasing program for payments under such title for the following provider groups: psychiatric hospitals, long-term care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, PPS-exempt cancer hospitals and hospice programs.

PPACA Implementation

Different sections of PPACA will be implemented over the span of the next 10 years. Included is a comprehensive timeline of when the major provisions of the law will begin. In addition, a glossary of frequently used terms has been included to help define some of the language included in PPACA. As with most legislation, a large portion of the law will be left to regulators to interpret while implementing. Over the course of the rollout period for PPACA, WOCN will be working with coalition partners and meeting directly with federal regulators on those provisions that impact WOCN membership. u

WOCN Signs-On the House Resolution Nursing and Health Reform Jan Colwell, MS, RN, CWOCN, FAAN WOCN Past President

The Ostomy-Wound Reimbursement Task Force is seeking approval and Sign-on of the House Resolution on ostomy supplies as prosthetics. Below is a brief explanation of the situation surrounding the resolution and the reasoning behind their request…

Rationale:

From the first sentence of the resolution there is opportunity for the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) to utilize the wording as a platform for development of a second, WOCN-driven resolution that positions the certified ostomy nurse as a unique provider of essential service to the person with an ostomy. As the health care professional trained to provide ostomy care, WOCN’s opportunity emerges immediately: “Recognizing the life-saving role of ostomy care and prosthetics in the daily lives…” The resolution speaks to defining ostomy supplies as prosthetic devices and contains several areas of interest to reimbursement issues. The background of this resolution

addresses the issues of defining ostomy equipment as medical supplies. Supplies are identified by some payers as items that are used for a short time and then no longer needed. An example of this is the current situation in the state of California. California is looking at ways to trim their medical budget and, as such, looking at cutting reimbursement for medical supplies. As the law is currently written ostomy equipment is considered medical supplies and will be considered for no reimbursement.

in the above examples. For this reason alone the Ostomy-Wound Reimbursement Task Force feels that the WOCN should support persons with ostomies and sign the resolution. There are potential WOCN service reimbursement issues inherent in the Resolution. Page 2 reads as follows: “Whereas ostomy products are prosthetic devices prescribed by health care providers and meet the definition of prosthetics under Medicare” and page 3 line 11 reads:

A second example is United Healthcare, a major health insurance company, which currently does not reimbursement for any medical supplies including ostomy equipment. The view that ostomy equipment is medical supplies may start to be utilized by other payers preventing access to ostomy supplies for those people with ostomies.

“Custom-fit, medically prescribed prosthetic should be available to patients.” The task force sees an opportunity for WOCN to define who the health care provider is that can prescribe ostomy equipment, and identify the certified ostomy nurse as the essential provider to provide that service. The task force believes that we can incorporate the current resolution into a future WOCN-driven resolution Currently, Medicare views ostomy as we move toward developing equipment as prosthetics, but the a method of reimbursement payer system does not and this for ostomy care services by a disconnect can potentially cause certified ostomy care nurse. u access problems as evidenced www.wocn.org

Education

Reviewing Charts Marjorie Groom, MSHCA, BSN, RN, CWOCN, DAPWCA Educational Director, WOCN Society

Well, not really, but has a lawyer ever asked you to review a chart, have you ever thought about giving expert opinion, are you interested in giving expert opinion? Whether you carry the full certification (CWOCN) or the wound care certification (CWCN) the expertise you have is a valuable tool. If you choose to share this with the legal system there can be endless possibilities. Another consideration is whether you wish to work for the plaintiff or the defense. A good mix of the two has been recommended by many lawyers. I have been reviewing charts for quite a few years now, and I would like to share a few of my ideas. First, I began doing this more out of curiosity than any other reason. A friend of mine was overloaded with charts to review and asked me to take a case for her. So, after a few questions about how she went about the process, I agreed to take a case. I clarified with the lawyer that I was only reviewing

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the chart from a wound expert point of view. I did not want to get called on to defend something that I was not an expert on. It is important to elucidate this with the legal person from the beginning. Where do you begin once you agree to review a record? Remember when you agree to this, you may ultimately have to defend your findings in a court of law. Knowing this, you need to be thorough in reviewing the medical record. Work out your own system. Some of my cohorts use highlighters with color-codes such as yellow for intake and output, pink for skin, blue for labs, etc. I simply use sticky notes with little notes to myself for when I write my report. You may have to try several ways to find what works best for you. Many charts are Bates stamped which make it much easier to reference on your report. Some law firms stamp with the initials of the firm and page numbers, again making it easy to reference in a report.

Once in awhile there are no stamps and you end up counting pages and lines for your report. When you receive the records check them to see what they contain. I always like to have the policy and procedure manual to compare that facility is doing what they say they are supposed to be doing according to their policies and procedures. If you are partially through the record and do not feel that there is a case to be made, stop and talk to the lawyer. Do not go through the entire chart, charge a great deal of money and then tell the lawyer there is no case. It is unethical and disrespectful to the family involved and the lawyer. Once you have reviewed the chart, you need to write a report. It is easiest to first create a timeline from the beginning to the end of the case. Just the dates and the major issues are necessary to do this. Then, begin to write a letter stating why you are qualified to review these records. I simply state that

I am qualified to write a review of these records because I am a CWOCN and have been since 1997. I also put a little statement in about having experience with medical record review for both plaintiff and defense.

measuring guide of some sort, a label that tells you what body part you are looking at and the date the photograph was taken. This information is important and should be contained within the photo itself.

I never, nor should you, ever write an opinion as to cause of death if the patient has died in the case. That is for the physician involved as a specialist to do. When you site an error, make sure you can back it up with evidence-based research. Lawyers have all the research that you will have. They may even have more. It is remarkable how much information that the lawyers can access these days.

After you have completed your report, you will need to talk it over with the lawyer(s) with whom you are working. This lets you both get a feel for the case from your standpoint. He/she has already gone through the chart and realized he/she needs an expert opinion. Now you can share your expert opinion with him/her.

Each notation that you have found, write out by page number or Bates stamp and line(s) if you can. Then, below this, in bold you will need to write why it is in error. You do not need to cite the research here, but have it at your deposition. Label each area that you are reviewing separately, such as “so and so’s” deposition and then go through that person’s deposition. Begin a new page for each new section. Photographs, if they exist, are an important portion of the chart. Look at them closely, do they include the patients name, a

Once the lawyer has declared you as an expert, you will probably be set up for a deposition. Opposing council wants to ask you any number of questions to test your knowledge base, find out how good you are, or even how strong their case is. I have had cases settle out of court a few days or weeks after my deposition. This is where you need your evidence based research. Just remember not to take anything into the room with you when you give your deposition. Do not even take your copy of the chart into the room with you. Anything that you have in a folder, notes to

yourself, sticky notes in the chart, highlighted areas, are all available to the opposing council if you have them with you. We will not discuss charges for reviewing charts. It is considered price-setting if I were to say what the average is for expert opinion. In fact, I have no idea what the average is, I only know what my charges are and I do not ask what others charge anymore because of price-setting problems. As you go about setting yourself up in business, you may ask some of your cohorts, but set your own fees for review, deposition, after deposition, court appearance(s), and travel and expenses. Remember, wrong is wrong. Whether you work for the defense or the plaintiff, it does not matter if you believe the patient has been wronged. I have worked both sides of the aisle and I feel it makes me appreciate what families have gone through, how other wound care nurses look at charts and wounds, and what lawyers see in a chart more. Have fun reviewing chart reviewing. u

www.wocn.org

Directors Corner

Where I started and how I got here… Regina F. Holmes, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CWOCN, CFCN Director, WOCN Society

My name is Regina F. Holmes and I am delighted to be one of your newest directors. It really seems quite unbelievable at times that I would be a director of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN)! I am honored and blessed to be a part of such a wonderful society. I was pondering over what I might write to you about and it struck me that you may be interested in who I am and how I got to be one of the directors of WOCN. I became a nurse 18 years ago, and I felt then and still do to this day, that it is an honor and privilege to care for others. I ask God almost daily to help me to care for my patients to the best of my ability, and to make a difference for the better in the health and well being of the patients and families that I come in contact with. I had three children under the age of five when I decided to go to nursing school. I have

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continued my education in increments over the years, as I could afford and was able to. First completing my associate degree in nursing from Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, N.C., then Bachelor of Science from the University of South Carolina Spartanburg in 2001, next I attended and graduated from Emory in 2004 from the WOCNEP and became certified in wound, ostomy, continence and foot care in 2004. Lastly in December of 2009 I graduated from the University of South Carolina Columbia with a Master of Science in Nursing with emphasis in Family Nurse Practitioner. Did I mention that I received a WOCN scholarship that assisted me in paying for this degree! To top it all off I completed nurse practitioner certification and recertification in wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) this year. Bear with me there is a point to be made! You can do anything that you set your mind to!

I have experience in medical, pediatric, intensive care, staff development, nursing management, home health, and wound, ostomy and continence nursing.

“I was so excited and encouraged when I attended my first board meeting in my new role as director...” If I had to choose the hardest job I have had it would definitely be WOC nursing, but it is the most fulfilling and gratifying as well. Our patients are complex, many with multiple issues, You

see I had never even thought of being WOC nurse. I basically became a WOC nurse because I was asked to. I have Amanda Mills my DON to thank for that. I am so thankful that I did become a WOC nurse because this has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I remember being a nurse manager of my medical/ pediatric floor and meeting with Mills and having her tell me she wanted me to go to school to be a WOC nurse. She told me that many managers were wearing more than one hat and she wanted me to continue to manage and be a WOC nurse. I began a life changing journey with many challenges and triumphs. After completion of my WOC program everyone thought I was an expert. I was afraid and I really felt far from being an expert. I was all alone in my 105-bed hospital and 88bed nursing home and everyone called on my expertise. I knew I needed help and fast, in order to succeed at this WOC journey. I quickly realized that I needed support of my colleagues. To receive that support, I first became a member of WOCN; I then became involved at the local level in my community by meeting and getting together

with the WOC nurses in my area; at the state level I became a member of the S.C. WOC meetings; and at the regional level I became a member of the Southeast Region (SER). It was at the SER conference that I was inspired to run for the SER office. I thought what better way to get to know my colleagues and learn more about the society, that I have come to love, than to serve them in some capacity. I have just completed my 4th year as the director of awards and scholarships for the SER. I truly have received much more from serving than I ever gave. I was actually looking forward to just being a member of WOCN this year. After all I had been in graduate school and served on the SER for the past four year and was looking forward to a much needed break, but little did I know what was in store for me. Thanks to Laura Shaffer the SER president, and dear friend, nominated me for the director’s position on the WOCN board of directors. I of course was honored that she felt I capable and competent enough to do the job. So I felt I should accept the nomination and run. I was unsure if I would secure the position, but I did.

The WOCN board has welcomed me with open arms. I am so appreciative for the support and encouragement from Dr. Phyllis Bonham and the other board members. I was so excited and encouraged when I attended my first board meeting in my new role as director in Phoenix this past June. I sat at the meeting in awe of being in the midst of WOCN’s best and brightest working diligently for their members. So back to my point and thank you for bearing with me: I explain my journey to encourage all of you. You can be anything you want to be. I never imagined I would become a WOC nurse, or be on the WOCN board, but by God’s grace and you the membership’s votes and support, I am. I promise to do the best job I can with your best interest at the forefront of my mind. So get out there and get involved! You will benefit far more than you ever imagined. We need you! u

www.wocn.org

Member Benefits

boarding” or advertising/product promotion by any vendor on our page. Also, this social site is NOT for patient/clinical discussions. The forums serve that purpose. Membership Committee members will moderate the site, along with staff from the National Office.

For those who love social networking, you can now follow the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) on Facebook (FB). We launched the FB page in early October, and are excited to use this tool not just for existing membership, but also for anyone interested in WOCN. This page is not a substitute for the WOCN forums, and its purpose is much different than that of the forums. The purpose of the 26

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So, how can you get started on Facebook? First you need a FB account. Go to www.facebook.com to set up your free account. When you go to set up your account, you will be prompted for some basic information, including an e-mail address, the screen prompts will WOCN FB page is to provide a guide you along the way to help social outlet for those who aren’t you set up your account. You able to connect with us/our can upload a photo of yourself or organization in other ways, or something that represents you. who prefer a social media setting You can give as much or as little to more “traditional” forms of information about yourself as communication. you wish. WOCN’s FB page is available to any FB user, and it is not necessary to be a WOCN member to be active on the page. We do have a few ground rules; we will not allow “bill

Once you have an active FB account, you can find the WOCN page in two ways: • You can use the FB search bar for “WOCN” or “wound, ostomy and continence nurses

society” and you will either be can click the FB banner and it prompted right to the page, will take you to the WOCN FB or our page will appear with page. But remember, you must other similar pages. You would have an active FB account! just simply select the page you would like to navigate to, and Once you are on the WOCN with the click of the mouse it FB page, you can “Like” the will take you there. page, which will cause the WOCN icon to post to your • Alternatively, and easily, you page, informing people about can also get to the WOCN FB WOCN. You can also choose page from the WOCN website, to “Like” posts or make a www.wocn.org, where there comment yourself. The goal is to is now a FB banner that says, promote communication, so join “Find us on Facebook”; you in and communicate!

The FB page will also serve as another means of communicating about important WOCN related items, such as what is hot in the bookstore, or what is going on with conference, etc. Like any other opportunity and new tool, the WOCN FB page will be as valuable as YOU make it! I’m looking forward to talking to you online! u

CCI Call for Proposals The Center for Clinical Investigation (CCI) of the Wound, Ostomy Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society is pleased to announce the Call for Proposals for 2011 research grants! If you are an RN and a member of the WOCN Society, you are eligible to apply for one of the following 7 grants. International members are also encouraged to apply. The grant proposal applications are available on the WOCN Society website, here. The submission deadline is January 31, 2011. The 7 grants available to you are… Hollister, Inc. - WOCN Society CCI Grant for Care of Patients with an Ostomy • Two $10,000 grants Molnlycke Health Care - WOCN Society CCI Grant for Critically Colonized/Infected Chronic Wounds • One $10,000 grant Regenesis Biomedical - WOCN Society CCI Grant for Slow Healing Wounds • One $5,000 grant Sage Products, Inc. - WOCN Society CCI Grant for Incontinence Associated Dermatitis (IAD) • One $7,500 grant Sage Products, Inc. - WOCN Society CCI Grant for Heel Pressure • One $7,500 grant WOCN Society Members’ Research Grant • One $7,500 grant, sponsored by the WOCN members Contact Linda Dahle, CCI’s Program Associate, at dahle081@umn.edu (612.625.8159) to apply for a grant today!

Credentials for the Professional Nurse WOCN has recently adopted as part of the organization’s style guide the American Nurses Association (ANA) position statement entitled, “ANA Credentials for the Professional Nurse: Determining a Standard Order of Credentials for the Professional Nurse”. This position statement addresses the order of credentials with professional entitlement. To view the statement in its entirety, click here.

Fulltime Positions available for Certified Wound & Ostomy Nurses The University of Miami Hospital has an opportunity available for a Certified Wound and Ostomy Registered Nurse. In addition to performing the primary function of an RN in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the care of patients in our Wound Healing Center the WOCN serves as the clinical resource and consultant for the acute and rehabilitative care of patients with select disorders of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary and integumentary systems. Uses an evidence-based process to evaluate current processes and makes recommendations for best practice as appropriate. Bachelor’s degree in Nursing required, Masters of Science degree in Nursing preferred. Current licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Florida required. Applicant must also have completed an accredited WOCN program or have WOCN certification. Must have at least 2 years of experience in an acute care setting managing complex wounds and ostomies. Membership in a professional organization associated with wound care preferred. Connie Bailey Cbailey@med.miami.edu University of Miami Hospital Nurse Recruiter www.careers.med.miami.edu

As a Student of an Accredited WOCN Program, you are entitled to receieve the WOC Nursing Scope and Standards for only $16! Shiping & Handling is FREE! Please visit our Student Resource Center to download the order form or email the National Office at wocn_info@wocn.org.