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Issue 3 2010

Cover Story

D e p a r t m e n t s F e a t u r e sPresidents Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Regional News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Member Spotl ight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Public Pol icy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Scholarship Committee . . . . . . . . . . 20

Members Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Confernce Re-cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Fundraising Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Who won this years WOCN Presidents award? Check out our conference re-cap to find out! Also, learn more about the WOCNs newest publications on page 14 .

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Extraordinary Past, Exciting FutureBy Phyllis Bonham, PhD, MSN, RN, CWOCN, DPNAP, FAANPresident, WOCN Society

The world of WOC nursing converged in Phoenix, Ariz ., for an extraordinary joint WOCN-WCET international conference the week of June 12-16, 2010 . It was truly a look back to the future as we acknowledged the beginnings of the Society in 1968 when a group of 12 enterostomal therapists (ETs) at a meeting with the United Ostomy Association in Phoenix decided to form an association of their own . At the urging of Dr . Rupert Turnbull, they named the new organization the American Association of Enterostomal Therapists (AAET) . Those founders included Alveda Ahnafield, Jean Alvers, Charlotte Blackman-Carter, Kay Carlson, Robert Draper, Virginia Geimer, Norma Gill-Thompson, Patricia Klemens, Darlene Larson, Edith Lennenbreg, Bertha Okun, and Jane Walker . We were pleased that one of these original founders, Jane Walker, was able to attend the 2010 conference .

There were several memorable events throughout the conference . In the opening ceremony, WCET President Elizabeth English and I provided an overview of the evolution of WOC nursing in the U .S . and around the globe as a tribute to the legacy of Norma Gill, the worlds first ET . Next, in recognition that every WOC nurse is Normas living legacy, nurses from WCET and WOCN appeared in a video, speaking about their passion for WOC nursing and why they do

what they do . Following the opening address, the audience was treated to the parade of flags of the delegates from around the world who were dressed in costumes representing their home countries . At this historic meeting, 3,300 attendees, exhibitors, corporate partners, and guests from 39 countries (including the U .S .) were present .

Another highlight was the enthusiastic response of conference attendees to our new scholarship campaign for nurses attending WOCN-accredited educational programs and WOC nurses pursuing advanced nursing degrees . Those who contributed to the scholarship fund at the conference were awarded a special pin to acknowledge their contribution . Over $16,000 was raised for the scholarship fund during conference, including a generous contribution of $10,000 from ConvaTec, Inc . Please read more about the new scholarship campaign on page 13 .

Also, we were pleased to introduce three new Society documents at the meeting . I encourage you to visit the online bookstore and add these important materials to your professional library if you do not yet have a copy: Guideline for Prevention

and Management of Pressure Ulcers: WOCN Clinical Practice Guideline Series

Management of the Patient with a Fecal Ostomy: Best Practice Guideline for Clinicians

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Scope & Standards of Practice

As President, it was a pleasure to provide certificates to 82 volunteers in recognition of their service to the Society on various task forces and committees over the past year . It was also an honor for me to award the 2010 WOCN Society Presidents Award to Janice C . Colwell, the Immediate Past president of WOCN, for her outstanding contributions to the Society and WOC nursing over many decades . We also would like to congratulate Jan Jester on receiving the 2010 Great Comebacks Award in recognition of her many years of service to patients with ostomies .

Additionally, we congratulate and welcome the newly elected officers to the Board of Directors and Nominations Committee members who were inducted during the closing session of the meeting: Phyllis Kupsick, Secretary; Ben Peirce, Treasurer; Carole Bauer, Director Area # 2; Regina Holmes, Director Area # 4; Shawneen Schmitt, Nominations Area # 2; and Sharon White, Nominations Area # 4 . Also, we express our sincere thanks and gratitude to outgoing

D E P A R T M E N T S

Presidents Letter

Continued on page 17

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WOCN Society MissionThe 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 EditorMarjorie Groom, MSHCA,

BSN, RN, CWOCNet2@norcom2000 .com

Executive Vice PresidentNicolette Zuecca, CAE

nzuecca@ahint .com

Assistant Executive DirectorVincent Gangemi IIIvgangemi@ahint .com

WOCNews is a publication of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence

Nurses Society (WOCN) 15000 Commerce Parkway

Suite CMt. Laurel, NJ 08054

888/224-WOCN www.wocn.org

Publication Date:August 2010

WOCN Society Board and Commit tee Chairs

Board Committee Chairs

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

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

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

Treasurer 2010 2012Ben Peirce, BA, RN, CWOCNPlantation, Fla .benjamin .peirce@gentiva .com

Directors2010 2012Carole Bauer, MSN, ANP-BC, OCN, CWOCNDetroit, Mich .bauerc@karmanos .org

2009 2011Mary Jo Conley, BSN, RN, CWOCNHackensack, N .J .mjc998@comcast .net

2009 2011Elizabeth Hiltabidel, MSN, RN, CWOCNRiverside, Calif . ehiltabidel@charter .net

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

Accreditation CommitteeBonny Flemister, MSN, RN, ANP, GNP-BC, CWOCNKilgore, Texas bonnygae@mac .com

Continence CommitteeLaurie Callan, MSN, ARNP, CWOCNClinton, Iowallcallan@msn .com

Development CommitteeLaurie L . McNichol, MSN, RN, GNP, CWOCNGreensboro, N .C . mcnichol@triad .rr .com

Education CommitteeMarilyn Murphy Shepherd, MSN, RN, CDE, CWOCN, CNEQuincy, Ill . mshepherd@brcn .edu

Marketing and Communications CommitteeDiane R . Maydick Youngberg, EdD, RN, ACNS-BC, CWOCNStaten Island, N .Y .dmaydick@gmail .com

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

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

Nominations CommitteeMargaret T . Goldberg, MSN, RN, CWOCNDelRay Beach, Fla .margoldb@comcast .net

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

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

Public Policy CommitteeSuzanne Collins, MS, BSN, RN, CWOCNNorcross, Ga .suzanne .collins@molnlyckeus .com

Scholarship CommitteeKay Rickey, MS, RN, CNS, CWOCNTroy, Ohiokrickey@uvmc .com

Wound CommitteeDiane Deitz, MSN, ACNP, CWONNeptune, N .J .ddeitz49@aim .com

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D E P A R T M E N T S

Regional News

News From the WOCN World

Western Maryland Affiliate of Mid-Atlantic Region of WOCNThe Western Maryland Affiliate of the WOCN holds quarterly meetings sponsored by Medline . The discussion at our May meeting was related to the Remedy line, including new products and changes to the line .

Please contact Ann Roney at Ann .Roney@wchsys .org for more information about attending a meeting .

Rocky Mountain RegionThe Phoenix WOC nurses greatly enjoyed hosting the recent National Conference . Working together on the event encouraged solid teamwork and our local group is flourishing!

The Phoenix group recently hosted Rolf Benirschke . It was enlightening to discuss topics that our patients with ostomies frequently have on their minds, such as trust, commitment, and taking the time to see them as a whole person . It was also a good reminder of how important it is to support the UOAA .

Sue Hill would like to express her appreciation to the region for the scholarship to attend NIWI . She reported that the conference helped

her learn about building effective partnerships and constructive solutions for health care reform .

Fall Conference will be held Oct . 14-16 in Denver . We would welcome participation from colleagues around the country . We are partnering with the NPUAP for the day, Oct . 15 . More details are available at www .rmr-wocn .com .

Hawaii AffiliateAloha! In April we hosted the Special Buddy Connection, which brought together teens and counselors from all over the state . For the first time, several teens indicated that the educational event was one of the highlights of the weekend . The educational session this year was presented as The Special Buddy Connection Squares, with the doctors and nurses acting as the celebrities . The doctors and nurses had just as much fun as the teens convincing the kids that their answers were correct . It was impressive how knowledgeable the teens were about various bowel and bladder conditions .

The education committee has continued to finalize plans for our upcoming Annual Conference, which will be held Oct . 28 at the Hale Koa Hotel . Due to multiple requests for more information on wound care products, Dr . Shelly Burdette-Taylor, CEO and curriculum designer for TaylorD Health Education, will

provide an update on wound care products . She will also address wound infections and biofilm . We have invited Jane Fellows, MSN, RN, CWOCN, from Duke University Hospital to address management of fistulas and the nightmares of complex ostomies . Dr . Patricia Nishimoto, who is an oncology CNS but is also well known for discussing sexuality with an ostomy, will be spreading her knowledge on this topic .

This spring the Professional Practice Committee instituted short vendor presentations prior to the start of the meeting, which has been very beneficial for the vendors as well as the WOC nurses who can now stay updated on the latest products .

We hope our peers across the nation will consider attending our October conference . Remember, as the temperatures drop across the nation, Hawaiis temperatures will still be in the high 70s and 80s . We encourage you all to start planning ahead -- come and join us in Hawaii!

South Central RegionThe National Conference was a great place for networking this year . Congratulations to our members who presented posters at National Conference this year: Anita Prinz (two posters), Bonnie Alvey, Dianne

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McCollum, Jeannie Thompson, Jill Conwill, Jocelyn Goffney, Kathy Camp, Leslie Everett, Mary OBrien, and Tina Meyers (five posters) . Jeannie Thompson was presented with the SCR Poster Presentation Scholarship at the Regional Meeting on June 12 . We honored last years SCR Award winners at our booth in Exhibit Hall by displaying their photos and the awards that they received .

Fall Conference will be in Little Rock, Ark ., from Sept . 16-18 . Check out the SCR Web site for more information . There will many new vendors and great topics presented . We are changing the structure of the meeting so plan to come and check it out .

We also need nominations for new officers: President, Treasurer and Nominations Chairperson . If you are interested in becoming more active, please contact Tina Meyers . Nominations are also needed for our 2010 Awards: Outstanding SCR-WOCN of the Year, Educator of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Manufacturer/Representative of the Year . Nomination forms can be found at www .scrwocn .org .

Southeast RegionGreetings from North Carolina, home of the next SER Fall Conference . Get ready to start your engines for what we hope is the best SER Conference yet Closing the Gap: Evidence, Knowledge & Practice . The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites in Concord, NC, home of the Charlotte Motor Speedway . Save the dates: Sept . 30-Oct . 3 . Earn 20 contact hours for the main conference and another four contact hours for the pre-conference . Visit www .serwocn .org for more details .

Dont forget to check the SER Web site often . Besides regional news, there are links to current and past SER newsletters and to educational resources, including three fantastic educational presentations .

Become involved! If you are interested in running for an office on the SER board of directors, the consent to serve form is located on the website . The following positions are open this year: President, Vice-President, Director of Awards, and Director of Communication .

Western Pa Affiliate of the NERWOCNTammy Steighner, western Pennsylvania affiliate secretary, has obtained her MSN Ed .

Northeast RegionVashti Livingston has been busy planning an event at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for National Bladder Cancer Awareness Day on July 17, 2010 . This event, a part of the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, is the first event of its kind across the country . The Web site, www .bcan .org, features an interactive map where you can learn what is being done in the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network in your local geographic region . u

D E P A R T M E N T S

Regional News (Continued)

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D E P A R T M E N T S

Regional News (Continued)

The 7th Annual New York Colon Cancer ChallengeSunday March 28th 2010 Central Park New York City

On a cool Sunday morning in March more than 70 members of the Northeast Region Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses (NERWOCN) Society and their friends and family assembled as Team WOCN to participate in the 7th Annual Colon Cancer Challenge in Central Park, New York City . This was the second year that we formally had Team WOCN and I had the pleasure of serving as team captain . The Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation whose purpose is to raise philanthropic support to address the issue of colorectal cancer (CRC), a major public health challenge in this country . Their focus is on increasing public awareness of CRC, promoting prevention and early detection, improving screening methods, patient advocacy, and research into the causes of and improved treatments for CRC .

Community events like the Colon Cancer Challenge serve as channels for promoting advocacy and raising awareness . In 2008 the New York Metro WOC nurses partnered with the New York Ostomy Association and supported this annual event . In 2009 we formed the first Team WOCN . The race organizers, Dr . Weber and Al Ferro, hope we can rally the support of 1,000 nurses for future events . The run/walk consists of a 1 .7-mile

remembrance walk, a 4-mile run, and a 15K run . This year there were 172 teams with participants from more than 41 states, including visitors from overseas (the Philippines, Australia, U .K, Italy and more), and virtual visitors via the Virtual Challenge

(a new event for those who wished to participate but were unable to be physically present in NYC on the day of the event) . Attendance was estimated at 8,000, with 1,400 walkers and more than 6,000 runners; Team WOCN had representation in each category with the majority participating in the walk (see photos www .coloncancerchallenge .org) . To date, Team WOCN has raised $7,348 (although the final results are still being tallied) . In addition to the funds raised during the event, the NERWOCN, represented by Cheryl Bealer, the NER president, and Mary Brennan, the New York Metro Group president, presented a check for $1,000 to Dr . Thomas Weber, founder of the

event . There are several photos on the website of the symbolic big check commemorating the event .

We were excited to have representation from other geographic areas: Cheryl Bealer and her friend Kelly came in from Pennsylvania to join us under the NERWOCN banner . Our Edgepark representative came in from Cleveland, Ohio, and we had a professor from Bronx Community School of Nursing with some of her students . It was great to witness our ranks growing as we aim toward our goal of 1,000 nurses .

Many thanks to our generous sponsors: Medline Industries, Inc ., NY Home Health Care, ConvaTec, Inc ., Hollister, Inc ., Coloplast Corp ., and Mr . Gregory Grahn of Weber and Grahn Conditioning Corp . Thanks to the volunteers who stayed at our WOCN booth among the exhibits and distributed t-shirts and our new WOC nurse brochures . As is tradition, we ended with a lovely brunch at a nearby restaurant and began to plan the 2011 event . Reserve your March 2011 Sundays, and the final date of the race will appear in New York Road Runners Schedule . I look forward to seeing more of our members coming to support this event . See you in the park next year . u

To date, Team WOCN

has raised $7,348!

Vashti Livingston, Team WOCN CaptainVice-President, New York Metro WOCN

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W O C N E W S

Membership with the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society connects you to both tangible and intangible benefitsall aimed to provide day-to-day support in your practice . WOCN provides a number of beneficial, online resources to members . Make the most of your membership and understand where each benefit is located and how to access it .

The Global Learning Center The Global Learning Center affords you the opportunity to obtain contact hours online . As a member, you receive a discount on all courses and some are offered for free .

To access the Global Learning Center, first log in to the Member Center . Once you are logged in to the Member Center, click Library and then click Member Resources . Under Member Resources, you will see the button for Global Learning Center . When you are re-directed, you must log in again . This may be a different user name and password than the Member Center . Once logged in, it will recognize you as a Member and you can begin to purchase courses .

Image LibraryThis benefit is exclusive to members . The Image Library contains an assortment of images related to the care of wound, ostomy, and

incontinence patients and provides the opportunity to search images, learn more about the image, and download for professional purposes .

2008 Salary SurveyThis benefit is exclusive to members for no additional charge . The information contained in the survey represents complete, accurate, and up-to-date compensation and productivity data

on the WOC nursing industry . The report is designed to allow a user to easily compare their compensation and productivity levels with their peers . Full printed survey results are available for purchase . To access the 2008 Salary Survey, first log in to the Member Center and then click on the icon that reads Library . The Salary Survey is located under the tab for Member Resources . u

Member Benefits

Getting the Most Out of Your Membership By Heather MartinekDirector of Member Services, WOCN Society

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W O C N E W S

Member Benefits (Continued)

Greetings from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW), Proud Publisher of Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing and jwocnonline .com

As the publisher of print and online journals, we often get feedback about the products we produce . Some suggestions are great and exciting and some are plain and simple . Its the simple suggestions that often prove most valuable and useful to our readers .

We recently learned some members were experiencing frustration in accessing the online journal . While LWW and WOCN tried to make it simple by allowing you to simply click a link to get to the journal Web site, we created confusion by telling you to

register once you got there to receive additional bells and whistles . In theory, it sounded simple . We realize now, it created confusion .

As we sat brainstorming with leaders from WOCN, we talked in general about all of the logins everyone has for every different site to which they belong . We took a step back and said what would really make it easy for the members? Bingo! We concluded that automatically registering you and creating a memorable password would solve half the problem . WOCN felt this was a good solution and agreed to pilot the process .

Over the next two months, LWW will begin the process to make your login easier . We will keep you posted on the

progress and let you know when its ready to launch . In the meantime, you can access the online journal www .jwocnonline .com the same you access it now .

We hope you will continue to visit the journal online at www .jwocnonline .com . Lee Ann Krapfl, www .jwocnonline .com web editor, has been working closely with Mikel Gray, Editor-in-Chief, JWOCN, to ensure the journal Web site stays fresh and houses more than just the digital version of the journal . Their goal is to provide you with information you can use . So, keep in touch, stay involved, and make the most of www .jwocnonline .com ! u

A Message from JWOCNCourtesy of Lippincott Williams & WilkinsPublisher of the JWOCN

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History in the Making Conference RecapBy Carolyn Watts, MSN RN CWONChair, National Conference Planning Committee

The month of June saw the historic first joint conference of the WOCN and WCET organizations . The program was a Universal Focus on Patient Care . The meeting was held in Phoenix, Ariz ., and we had a record attendance of 2,262 professional participants and 1,075 industry partners . Of the professional attendees, 1,187 were WOCN and over 200 were WCET .

The meeting was an exciting blend of U .S .-based and international participants who were able to discuss the commonalities and the differences in the practice of WOC nursing around the world . It was amazing to see some of the challenges our international colleagues face in delivery of care and resource (or lack thereof) availability, especially in some of the third world countries . Priscilla (Prilly) Stevens gave us a great insight into patient care and education of ET nurses in Africa .

The opening session highlighted the contribution of Norma Gill on the development of enterostomal therapy as a discipline . Dr . Phyllis Bonham, our WOCN president, and Elizabeth English, president of WCET, discussed the impact Norma had on the care and education of patients with ostomies and how that practice led to the current practice of WOC nursing in the U .S . and around the world . It was an enlightening review of our history

We Couldnt Have Done it Without You!We wanted to take a minute to thank all of those who volunteered their time at the WOCN/WCET Joint Conference this year in Phoenix . We definitely could not have done it without you . We also want to thank the local Phoenix nurses for their hospitality and generosity . They were always willing to jump in and help out at all times, even if they werent scheduled to volunteer at that time . Thank you

Derik Alexander, Nancy Angulo, Debra Beauchaine,

Kathy Berry, Jo Ann Bowser, Andrea Brennan,

Martha Cobb, Terri Cox, Michelle DAquino, Ann

Durnal, Tonda Franklin, Kerry Grant, Sue Hill,

Mary Kathryn Hughes, Miriam Jensen, Donnalee

Jerome, Cheryl Karam, Robert Kemmet, Marlene

Kropf, Deborah Lehker, Karen Lines, Mary Ludwig,

Denise Manley, Heather McEntarffer, Pat Mekker,

Angela Okeke, Suzie Pennington, Linda Rice, Janet

Schmidbauer, Susan Stelton, Linda Terry, Erlinda

Tom, Kathy Vaught, Pam Waychoff, Sue Wilson and

Mary Wood

Continued on page 12

W O C N E W S

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D E P A R T M E N T S

Member Spotlight

Jan Jester receives Great Comebacks, WOC Nurse of the Year Award.

Dr. Mikel Gray with the JWOCN Clinical Manuscript Award winners, Susan G. Chicano and Colleen Drolschagen.

Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Mikel Gray presents the JWOCN Research Manuscript Award to Dr. Barbara Bates-Jensen.

UOAA President, Kristen Knipp and Society President, Dr. Phyllis Bonham with UOAA Nurse of the Year

recipient, Toni McTigue.

WOCNs Immediate Past President, Jan Colwell, receives the 2010 Presidents Award from Society President, Dr. Phyllis Bonham.

On behalf of Iowa Health Home Care, Elizabeth Sutter and Liz Brecth receive the WOCNCB Employer of the Year Award

from WOCNCB President, Diana Gallagher.

Annual Conference Award Winner Photos

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D E P A R T M E N T S

Member Spotlight Sponsorship

Coloplast Corp.Platinum Sponsor

Hill-Rom Co., Inc.Bronze Sponsor

Liberty Medical Gold Sponsor

The WOCN Society would like to thank our first ever Diamond Level Sponsor, ConvaTec, Inc., for their generous support at this years 2010 WOCN/WCET Joint Conference.

Hollister, Inc. Platinum Sponsor

CovidienSilver Sponsor

KCISilver Sponsor

Molnlycke Healthcare Gold Sponsor

We would also like to thank all of our other industry partners for assisting the Society in our strategic initiatives.

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as a specialty practice . Dr . Katherine Jeter closed the meeting continuing our history but with us Looking Back, Moving Forward .

We had a number of presentations by our international colleagues discussing issues that affect their practice and sharing lessons they have learned, including outcomes of their research related to the practice of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing . International attendees came to Phoenix from Europe, Asia, Africa, South and Central America, Australia, and New Zealand .

WOCN was excited to introduce our latest published documents: the second edition of the Guideline for Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers, Management of the Patient with a Fecal Ostomy: Best Practice Guideline for Clinicians and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice . I highly recommend you all obtain a copy and read them . The Scope and Standards

of Practice is the document that led to our organization being endorsed by the ANA as a nursing specialty .

As we continue to expand our evidence base for the practice of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing we share that information with our members . One of the sessions this year was on Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, State of the Science, presented by Mary Arnold-Long, which was very well received . We continue to enjoy presentations of research findings related to our practice as well . We plan to continue and even expand on that base .

We again had several pre-conference sessions that were well attended . We continue to offer sessions throughout conference to meet the needs of the members from beginner to advanced practice and to cover all the practice areas of acute care, home care, long term care, and independent practice .

The conference saw the launch of the new WOCN Foundation Web site . The

WOCN Foundation is the governing body over two of the WOCNs most important elements: the Center for Clinical Investigation and the WOCN Scholarship fund . You can now go to the Web site at www .wocnfoundation .org and make donations online at any time .

Many awards were announced, including the 2010 President Award and Great Comebacks Nurse of the Year .

We continued our going green initiative with the participants printing the individual session handouts instead of having conference books printed . There were some initial challenges and we have received mixed feedback about the process . We will continue to improve the process using your feedback .

We look forward to seeing you next year in New Orleans, La, from June 4-8 . The theme for the meeting will be Savor the Experience . u

History in the Making Conference Recap (Continued from pg 9)

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The 2010 WOCN/WCET Joint Conference in Phoenix, Ariz ., was not only the largest and one of the most monumental annual meetings in WOCN history, it was also the launching ground for the organizations most comprehensive fundraising initiative to date . Within the past year, award rates for both the Accredited and Advanced scholarships have increased to 25 .5 and 59 percent, respectively . With the caliber of applicants becoming ever more qualified and competitive, the need to increase available funding was imminent . On behalf of the hardworking members of the Scholarship Task Force, I am proud to announce these fundraising initiatives and their results .

The initial push to accumulate funds for scholarships came from the Societys decision to consolidate the Regional and Affiliate Scholarship funds into one centralized general scholarship fund, with the hopes that it would allow the Society to put a greater number of deserving nurses through our Accredited and Advanced Nursing Education Programs . The reason behind the decision was that recent awards were limited due to the geographical restrictions, and scholarships were being awarded in far fewer numbers for as low as a few hundred dollars . As I am sure you are well aware, this wont even cover books . Without the regional restrictions, the Society is able to award scholarships on the basis of

merit and financial need, providing the opportunities to those who deserve it most . The additional funding that this creates also allows the awards to go much further . Our hope is one day to provide a predetermined number of FULL scholarships per year, and we believe this is achievable with the consolidation of funds . As a result of this effort, the WOCN Foundation was able to raise $10,535 towards the WOCN Foundation Scholarship Fund . The Society sincerely thanks those regions that have made the choice to help sustain the WOC profession and to help future WOC nurses get the financial aid they deserve .

The 2010 scholarship launch also introduced an exclusive Scholarship Foundation Contributors Pin . These limited-edition pins were only available at the 2010 WOCN/WCET Joint Conference and were given to any individual or industry partner who made a donation of $50 or more . The WOCN Foundation raised an additional $6,375 for educational scholarships with the distinctive pin incentive . The spirit and generosity of WOCN members was clearly demonstrated with more than 86 individual donors and an average gift of nearly $75 .

It is also no secret that much of our organizations success is due to the generosity of our industry partners . ConvaTec, Inc . is one such partner who has done so much in recent years to

help WOCN achieve its goals . WOCN was able to bring you the WOC for Wellness at this years Annual Meeting through their thoughtful sponsorship . Participating in the WOC for Wellness was a great opportunity for participants to get a little exercise while connecting with thousands of WOC professionals at the same time . The event demonstrated the importance of physical activity and healthy living while helping to drive support for a meaningful cause . As the sponsor of the WOC for Wellness, ConvaTec, Inc . pledged to donate up to $10,000 to the WOCN Foundation Scholarship Fund, and every step logged helped drive the amount of their donation higher . I am very excited to report that 12,408,000 steps were logged over a three-day period by 750 participants . That equates to more than 4,700 miles! With numbers like that, ConvaTec, Inc . did not hesitate to donate the full amount of $10,000 to the WOCN Foundation Scholarship Fund . We deeply thank ConvaTec, Inc . for their continued support and thank all those who participated in the event . It was your hard work that made the event so successful!

In conjunction with these fundraising actions, the task force also identified a critical need to update the contribution-accepting capabilities of the Society . The new www .wocnfoundation .org is an online resource for all things

The Results Are In! Fundraising UpdateBy Vince GangemiAssistant Executive Director, WOCN Society

Continued on page 17

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D E P A R T M E N T S

Educational

Three new publications were released at this years annual WOCN Society conference . The documents, Guideline for Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers; Management of the Patient with a Fecal Ostomy: Best Practice Guideline for Clinicians; and WOC Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, provide indispensable information for nurses specializing in wound, ostomy, and continence are now available for purchase through the WOCN Web site .

The WOCN Society has produced a series of evidence-based guidelines focused on best practices for managing patients with neuropathic wounds and

wounds due to arterial, venous disease, and pressure ulcers . Guideline for Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers was developed by a panel comprised of WOCN-member nurses representing a wide range of experience and clinical practice backgrounds . The Society has recently completed revisions to the guideline focused on pressure ulcer care . The previously published guideline has been updated to provide current, consistent, and evidence-based information, as well as an overview covering the background, significance, and physiological aspects of pressure ulcers . The etiology of pressure ulcers, overall management goals for the specialty, and recommendations for prevention and treatment are also included in the new publication . The document also includes an algorithm to determine wound etiology, a comprehensive glossary, and several appendices with tools for managing pressure ulcers . Studies reporting primary data applicable to pressure ulcers and relevant therapies or diagnostic modalities are also included . The updated guideline includes current recommendations, strategies, and information to assist health care practitioners make decisions about appropriate

New Publications Vital to WOC NursingBy Pete Pomilio, MBAExecutive Vice President of Educational Products and Marketing, WOCN Society

WOC nursing was recently

recognized as a new nursing

specialty by the American

Nurses Association

(ANA)!

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D E P A R T M E N T S

Educational (Continued)

health care based on established standards of care .

The Society has also published a guideline for managing patients with fecal ostomies . Management of the Patient with a Fecal Ostomy: Best Practice Guideline for Clinicians supports clinical practice by providing consistent research-based information designed to improve cost-effective patient outcomes and encourage ostomy-related research . The process was directed by direct input from a panel of WOCN members and consulting colorectal surgeons . The publication covers the following areas: types of ostomies, stoma site marking, preoperative and postoperative patient education, pouching options and basic management, complications (stoma and peristomal) and interventions, and how an ostomy affects the quality of life of the patient . The guideline is a valuable resource for physicians, nurses, therapists, and other health care professionals treating patients who have undergone or will undergo a fecal ostomy .

As you may know, wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) nursing was recently recognized as a new nursing specialty by the American Nurses Association (ANA) . To earn specialty recognition, the ANA requires that applicants provide thorough research and documentation of the specialty . The WOCN Society ANA Specialty Practice Task Force compiled, reviewed, and revised information for the application and published the information in three documents, which have been compiled into one publication . WOC Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice outlines the scope of the WOC nursing practice, standards of the

WOC nursing practice, and the formal criteria for designation as a specialty practice . The result is a comprehensive examination of the history, practice, and standards of WOC nursing, which is vital information to anyone practicing in the field . The the specialtys roots, the current state of WOC nursing and future direction of the field are examined . And all this information is distilled into an easily readable format . This paper is fundamental reading for WOC nurses and others whose works involves WOC nursing issues .

These three new WOCN Society products can be purchased safely and securely online through the WOCN Web site, www .wocn .org . Be sure to log in as a member to receive discounts on all products . u

www.wocn.org 17

Directors Alvin Word and Barbara Sadler, as they complete their terms of service on the Board of Directors .

This 2010 WOCN/WCET Joint Conference was a once in a lifetime opportunity for many to learn and network with nurses from all corners of the world who share a common passion and pride for WOC nursing . In her remarks during the closing address,

Dr . Katherine Jeter, a pioneer of the WOCN Society, reminded us of our heritage and the pride, passion, and persistence, that are the hallmarks of WOC nursing that we know today .

The National Conference Planning Committee, under the direction of Chair Carolyn Watts and our National Office, are to be commended for their outstanding job at making this an

exceptional and memorable event for all who attended . If you were unable to attend the conference, you can visit the Annual Conference section of the WOCN Web site (www .wocn .org and purchase this years conference sessions on CD . Now we start the work of planning for WOCN Societys 43rd Annual Conference in New Orleans, La ., June 4-8, 2011 . We hope to see you there! u

Presidents Letter Continued from page 2

related to the WOCN Foundation . It is the most efficient way for individuals and industry partners to learn about the foundations research-based and educational initiatives and to donate to the foundation . You will find information related to the Center for Clinical Investigation, WOCN Research Grants, educational scholarships, patient testimonials and all the other exciting works of the WOCN Foundation . I urge all of you to take part in this initiative by logging on to www .wocnfoundation .org and donating to the WOCN Foundation .

The launch of the new scholarship campaign at the 2010 WOCN/WCET Joint Conference was an undisputed shining success . At a conference with more than 2,200 registered attendees from over 39 countries, we managed to raise $16,375 for educational scholarships in only four days! And this is just the beginning! Stay on the lookout for upcoming events and initiatives from the WOCN Foundation as it continues these efforts and recreates the way WOCN awards scholarships . Dont forget to visit the new WOCN Foundation Web site, www .wocnfoundation .org, for additional information! u

The Results Are In! Continued from page 13

W O C N E W S

www.wocn.org 18www.wocn.org 18

D E P A R T M E N T S

Public Policy

Crisis CaliforniaBy Marylin Magoffin, BSN, RN, APRN-BC, CWOCNCo-Chair, Public Policy/Advocacy Task Force

Patient Advocacy: Uninturrupted Coverage For Wound Ostomy and Continence Supplies. Where Local and National Interests Blend

Local politics can have national implications . Nurses, health care organizations, industry, and patients can all work together to fight for appropriate care . Being politically astute in this time of major health care reform is a vital component of the specialty practice of a WOC nurse .

In February the Pacific Coast Region (PCR) participated in a grass roots effort to continue reimbursement for Medi-Cal patients for wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) supplies . Medi-Cal, the Medicaid equivalent in California, reimburses for specified

amounts of supplies for outpatients in the home and clinic setting . The term optional supplies is a legal definition that is recognized by all states and refers to ostomy, incontinence, and urological treatment supplies and surgical dressings . Other durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies also considered optional are diabetes monitoring supplies, supplies to manage hemodialysis, speech-generating devices, nutritional infusion devices, and apnea monitors .

Due to a $20 billion budget shortfall for the state of California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed eliminating reimbursement for optional supplies to Medi-Cal recipients . A vote by state Assembly and Senate members on this proposal was scheduled for March 2010 with enactment occurring as early as May 2010 . Approximately 16 percent of Californians receive Med-Cal, including about 8,100 Medi-Cal-only ostomates . Lawmakers needed to be educated regarding the potential unintended consequences of cutting reimbursement for WOC supplies . Medi-Cal recipients are generally without many resources . Most would not be able to afford the cost of these supplies thereby increasing the potential for wound complications and skin breakdown . Hospital admissions and placement in nursing homes could also increase, all of which is far more expensive than the cost of paying for these supplies .An even more critical issue, other

states would be watching how California handled their budget crisis . If reimbursement for optional supplies was eliminated for Californians other states could follow suit . Manufacturers and distributers of optional supplies recognized the serious threat for their businesses . Kaye Martin, a reimbursement specialist for the industry, reached out to PCR to inform members of the potential cuts and to encourage a letter writing and phone call campaign . A lobby day was scheduled in February for concerned parties to meet in Sacramento with key legislators on the budget committees . AvaMed, a group of companies who manufacture and supply WOC products, developed information packets to be presented to legislators that described chronic wounds and ostomies . Linda Aukett from United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) was also going to attend and bring representatives from local UOAA groups to share their ostomy experiences and what being without appliances would mean for them .

PCR immediately sent a blast e-mail to all members outlining the situation and providing talking points and information on how to contact their respective legislators . An official letter from PCR was sent to the key committee chairs . Members were encouraged to tell their patients stories, sinceputting a human face to a problem makes it real and is an effective persuasion strategy . Members

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

proposed eliminating

reimbursement for optional

supplies to Medi-Cal recipients .

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were coached to make phone calls to their legislators office with a follow up letter . Letters and faxes are better than e-mails but any contact counts . A constituent with voting power has more voice than a non-constituent .

Additional support was provided by Eileen McCann and Liz Lemiska, who had been involved in a similar situation in Connecticut when private insurers opted out of reimbursing for ostomy supplies . Their success is documented in an article they wrote for JWOCN (Lemiska, McCann, & Mancuso, 2002) . Additionally, WOCN attendees to the Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI) program met with California representatives and senators to discuss the Medi-Cal situation and the possible impact on non-coverage of supplies being replicated by other states decreasing access to care .

The initial response to the lobby day activities and grass root effort was good . The Senate and Assembly Budget Committees voted down eliminating WOC supplies . By April it appeared that the status quo would prevail . Governor Schwarzenegger then proposed a compromise: Ostomy supplies would not be touched, but continence supplies would be limited to $1,659 and urological supplies to $6,435 per person per year . The real problem was that wound care supplies would be limited to $391 per person per year . These amounts were arrived at by taking the aggregate utilization of these services at the 90th percentile of Medi-Cal enrollees and were therefore not reflective of the higher per-person use by chronic wound patients . Further education of legislators was needed .

Another round of letters, phone calls, and e-mails from PCR ensued .

As of this writing, California does not have a budget . Ostomy supplies have been saved; allowable continence supplies have been reduced but wound care supplies could still be at risk . The good news is that nurses, patients, and industry are together advocating for patient care . In a time of limited

resources, developing a team which can respond quickly and effectively when there are legislative, regulatory and insurance coverage issues is crucial to access to proper health care .

Lemiska, L ., McCann, E ., & Mancuso, M . (2008) . Changing social policy: grassroots to legislation . Journal of WOCN, 29, 149-163 u

Call for AbstractsAugust 23rd - November 1 2010

Fall Scholarship Application DeadlineNovember 1st, 2010

2011 Conference Registration and Housing OpenJanuary, 2011

WOCN 43rd Annual ConferenceJune 4th - 8th 2011

44th Annual ConferenceJune 9th - 13th 2012

WOCN Bul le t in Board:

D E P A R T M E N T S

Public Policy

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Scholarships