On this episode of WOCTalk, we sit down with Kate Lawrence, MSN, RN, CWOCN, the WOCN Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, and Chris Rorick, MPH, the WOCN  Director of Government Relations, who serve on the WOCN National Public Policy and Advocacy Committee. Kate and Chris discuss updates to the COVID-19 Legislation, partnering with other organizations to fill coverage gaps, Regional and Affiliate resources, the VoterVoice Platform, and other hot topics and resources. 

For more information on WOCN Public Policy and Advocacy efforts, to access documents, and to contact your legislator regarding current policy issues, visit our Public Policy and Advocacy page.

Episode Resources

Click hereto view the WOCN Public Policy & Advocacy page.

Click here to view the WOCN Trending Legislative Issues

Click here to learn more about the Lymphedema Treatment Act

Click here to view the Regional & Affiliate Public Policy Toolkit. (members-only)

Click here to view the WOCN and UOAA Admission and Retention of People Living with an Ostomy in Assisted Living Residences Frequently Asked Questions document.

Click here to view the new Surgical Dressings Provider Checklist and Frequently Asked Questions documents.

Click here to view the Critical Need to Provide Ostomy Supplies Specific to Patient Need to Improve Health Outcomes whitepaper. 

Click hereto send a message to your legislators through the VoterVoice platform.

On this episode of WOCTalk, we sit down with Carol Stanley, MSN, APRN, CWOCN, author of the ePoster “Catapulting Wound/Ostomy Care into the 21st Century: Utilization of certified wound/ostomy APRN to the Full Extent of the License” that was presented at the WOCNext® 2021 conference. Carol discusses her WOC nursing experience at a wound clinic, the creation of an APRN role for inpatient and outpatient wound and ostomy consultation, and how that APRN role positively affected continuity of care, healing rates, revenue, and more.

Episode Resources:

To view the interactive ePoster for Catapulting Wound/Ostomy Care into the 21st Century, click here. To view the abstract text, click here.

On this special bonus episode of WOCTalk, we sit down with Janice Beitz, PhD, RN, CS, CNOR, CWOCN-AP, CRNP, ANEF, FNAP, FAAN, to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nursing practice in conjunction with the recent webinar titled “My Favorite Perfume Scent is Hand Sanitizer: Covid-19 - Impact on Contemporary Ostomy Practice”. This webinar is available to view on-demand through the WOCN Continuing Education Center (CEC) and awards 1.0 Contact Hours. This webinar discussed the impact of Covid-19 on the American population, innovations growing out of the pandemic, and clinical implications for future ostomy care delivery and clinician self-care needs.

This podcast and the webinar are supported by an educational grant from ConvaTec. The WOCN® Society does not endorse specific products and services.

Episode Resources
To view the on-demand webinar “My Favorite Perfume Scent is Hand Sanitizer: Covid-19 - Impact on Contemporary Ostomy Practice”, click here.

To learn more about WOCNext® 2022: A Global Education Event from WOCN® and WCET®, click here.

To view the online Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing (JWOCN), click here.

On this episode of WOCTalk, we sit down with Emilee Bartolo, RN, BSN, CWOCN, Chair of the Membership Engagement Committee of the WOCN® Society. Get to know Emilee and learn more about the Committee’s member outreach initiatives, “New to the Blue” member networking activities, upcoming goals, and more.

Episode Resources:

To view the Members-Only Forums, click here.

To view the WOCN Membership Big Book of Benefits, click here.

If you’re a new WOCN member and want to reach out to Emilee with questions, please send an email to [email protected], and feel free to send an email to the WOCN National Office at [email protected].

On this episode of WOCTalk, we sit down with three NYU Langone Health Nurses, Elizabeth Savage, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CWON, IIWCC-NYU, Oksana Nekoz, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, CWOCN, and Diana Kmita, BSN, RN, CRRN, CWOCN as they discuss their poster from WOCNext® 2021:A Virtual WOW Experience with the WOCN® Society and Relias titled Wound Consult Telehealth Validation. 

Interested in submitting an Abstract for WOCNext® 2022:A Global Education Event from WOCN® And WCET®? Visit wocn.org/abstract to learn more and to submit your Abstract.

Episode Resources:

Click here to view their poster Wound Consult Telehealth Validation.

Click here to view the WOCNext 2021 accepted Abstracts.

On this episode of WOCTalk, we sit down with Carolyn Watts, MSN, RN, CWON, and Laura Shafer, BSN, RN, CWON, who both serve on the Leadership Development Committee. This Committee helps to continually evolve the WOCN® Society’s landscape forward by soliciting and encouraging diversified members to run for leadership positions. Carolyn and Laura share their insights on the Committee’s purpose, who is eligible to hold WOCN leadership positions, what the Committee looks for in potential leadership candidates, how members can improve their leadership skills, and more.

The Call for Nominations for the 2022 WOCN Election are open through December 20, 2021. WOCN members are encouraged to nominate themselves or any qualifying individuals for open positions in the 2022 Election. The open positions are Secretary, Treasurer, Director (2 positions), and members of the Leadership Development Committee (2 positions). To submit a nomination, visit wocn.org/election.org.

Episode Resources:

For more information on the Call for Nominations for the 2022 WOCN Election, visit wocn.org/election.org.

To view the current Chairs of each WOCN Society Committee, click here.

On this episode of WOCTalk, we sit down with Joyce M. Black, PhD, RN, as she discusses WOCN’s webinar series Skin Assessment Conundrums: Pigment, Technology, and Moisture. On this episode Joyce addresses unanswered questions from the series and shares with listeners her insight into the latest evidence and adds her expertise to common skin assessment conundrums related to pigment, technology, and moisture. 

The Skin Assessment Conundrums Series and this podcast are supported by an  educational grant from Hillrom. The WOCN® Society does not endorse specific products and services.

Episode Resources:

If you registered for the Skin Assessment Webinar series, click here to view the event page and access the webinars on demand. 

Click here to access Skin Assessment: What's Pigment Got to Do With It? on the WOCN Society Continuing Education Center (CEC).

Click here to access Skin Assessment: What's Moisture Got to Do With It? on the WOCN Society Continuing Education Center (CEC).

Click here to access Skin Assessment: What's Technology Got To Do With It? the additional symposia session from WOCNext® 2021: A Virtual WOW Experience with the WOCN® Society and Relias.

On this episode of WOCTalk, we sit down with Meghan Smith, MSN, RN, AGACNP, CWOCN, WOCN Education Committee Chair, as she shares what the Education Committee has been working on lately and all of the exciting new features and content coming to the WOCN Society Continuing Education Center (CEC). 

Interested in joining the WOCN Education Committee? 
Visit www.wocn.org/volunteer-opportunities to stay informed about upcoming volunteer opportunities in 2022. 

Episode Resources:

Click here to visit the WOCN Society Continuing Education Center (CEC).

On this episode of WOCTalk, we sit down with Jeanine Gleba, UOAA Advocacy Manager, and Joanna Burgess, BSN, RN, CWOCN, UOAA Advocacy Committee Co-Chair, practicing nurse and ostomate. We discuss Ostomy Awareness Day and World Ostomy Day, ostomy advocacy and awareness outreach initiatives, ostomy care research, and ostomy patient rights.

Ostomy Awareness Day is celebrated annually on the first Saturday in October. World Ostomy Day is celebrated every three years on the first Saturday in October among organizations and ostomates worldwide. October 2, 2021, marks the 10th anniversary of World Ostomy Day with the theme of “Ostomates’ Rights are Human Rights – anytime and anywhere!”

Episode Resources:

For more information on World Ostomy Day and how you can get involved, please visit ostomy.org/world-ostomy-day

To learn more about Ostomy and Continence Diversion Patient Bill of Rights, click here.

To register for WOCN® Ostomy Education Day 2021, a free online experience held on October 2nd that will feature 8 educational sessions and will award a total of 6.75, click here.

On this episode of WOCTalk, we sit down with Anne Walsh, ANP-BC, ACHPN, CWOCN, author of the ePoster “Palliative Wound Care Where Aggressive Symptom Management Is the Goal” that was presented at the WOCNext® 2021 conference. We discuss the role of the WOC nurse in palliative care, the free App called “Palliative Wound Pro” that Anne developed, telehealth consultations, wound healing, and much more!

Episode Resources:

Click here to view the ePoster “Palliative Wound Care Where Aggressive Symptom Management Is the Goal”.

Click here to download the App Palliative Wound Pro for Apple devices.

Click here to download the App Palliative Wound Pro for Android devices.

If you missed WOCNext® 2021: A Virtual WOW Experience with the WOCN® Society and Relias, you could gain access to everything you missed during the live event for just $199. Click here to access the on-demand content.