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Ostomy Association of Greater
To contact them for a listing
of all CWOCN (Certified Wound Ostomy & Continence Nurse) worldwide, just
click on www.wocn.org . They may also be reached by phone at
1-888-224-WOCN. The WOCN site will
also access all the information currently available on the subject of ostomy
nursing. The following list contains
some of the ostomy nurses who have given presentations at our Association and
have volunteered in assisting our members on all ostomy care issues. Articles Included Below ·
How to See a WOC Nurse ·
The Ostomy Nurse—WOC Nurse ·
What is a CWOCN ·
Ostomy Nursing Credentials Local WOC Nurses Bernie auf dem
Grabem 773-774-8000 Alyce Barnicle 708-245-2920 Nancy Chaiken 773-878-8200 Terry Coha 773-880-8198 Children’s Memorial Hospital Jan Colwell
& Maria De Ocampo 773-702-9371
& 2851 Our
Lady of Jennifer Dore 847-570-2417 Beth Garrison
& Diane Kuehnlenz 312-942-5031 Rush
Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital Madelene Grimm 847-933-6091 Connie Kelly 312-926-6421 Northwestern Kathy Krenz
& Gail Meyers 815-338-2500 Centegra-Northern
Marina Makovetskaia & Kathy O'Grady 847-723-8815 Susan Neu &
Nancy Olsen
& Mary Rohan 708-229-6060 Little
Company of Barbara Saddler 312-996-0569 Catherine Smith 708-684-3294 Sandy
Solbery-Fahmy 847-316-6106 Nancy Spillo 708-763-4776 Resurrection Home
Health Services How to See a WOC Nurse As an ostomate, we should all carry in our wallet the
name of a WOC nurse and a hospital that can help us on a routine or an
emergency basis. Note: You should have a 24 hour, 365 day a year
emergency plan in place…now. If you
get a blockage, where would you go?
Whom would you call? Who would
help you? Your WOC nurse will assist
you in answering these and many other questions. To see an ostomy nurse is easy. Call your favorite hospital, look on this
newsletter's list of nurses, go to the WOCN web site or get a referral from a
friend. Get the name of a nurse and
then call him/her, say that you are an ostomate and would like to make an
appointment to come in. You will usually see your ostomy nurse on an
appointment basis. Remember this, if
you call, the nurse may be available in just half an hour if you really need
to see him/her. Go at your appointment
time, and see the receptionist. He/she
lets the nurse know you are there. You
meet the nurse, and have a private session just as you would a doctor. Most ostomates should see a WOC nurse at sometime. It may be take 20 years before you have an
issue. Still, make sure every day that
you know exactly what to do if a problem arises and you need help. You will find most WOC nurses go into the
profession because they are very caring people who have a sincere desire to
help us, their ostomy patients. The Ostomy
Nurse—WOC Nurse By Lynne
Carpenter, RN/CWOCN What is a WOC nurse or as it was
previously called, an enterostomal “ET” nurse? What does enterostomal mean? Entro is Greek for intestine, Os
is Greek for mouth or opening. An
enterostomal therapist or ET nurse is a person who specializes in the care
and rehabilitation of people with ostomies.
Ostomy is a general word indicating all artificial openings to the
skin in the body to remove waste, such as, colostomy, ileostomy and
urostomy. Much of the history about how ET's came
into being coincides with the origin of the United Ostomy Association. Historically, there was a lack of
instructional materials, an inability to discuss openly problems, a lack of
technical expertise and a lack of proper equipment. After World War II, the first group of
ostomates met in Now, the focus of the ET's role is much
broader than the beginning. The role
of the ET is to assist ostomates pre-surgically, post-operatively and
post-discharge to adjust to their change in body image; and to assist
ostomates to have control of and confidence in their abilities with the new
ostomy so they may resume a normal, active life. ET's provide psychosocial counseling for
the patient, family, educational staff and follow-up care as well as
technical services related to skin care and equipment. ET's use knowledge of anatomy and
physiology; disease process, surgical procedures; teaching and learning
principles; growth and development; nursing process, counseling and
communication skills—all to meet with specific needs of ostomy patients. The ET's skill are used directly with
patients and family, and in teaching and coordinating ostomy care by other
nurses involved with ostomates. The ET works closely with the local
ostomy group because together they share the same goal—successful
rehabilitation of all people with ostomies.
Both the local groups and the ET need to recognize the helpfulness and
resourcefulness of the other and refer ostomates with problems to each other
about new ideas and equipment. The ET can offer special knowledge and
skill while the ostomates can offer their own personal experience. Both are valuable. The local group provides visitors that the
ET may request, with the physician's permission, to visit patients
pre-operatively and post-operatively.
The ET may be a consultant and advisor to the local ostomy group, may
speak at meetings, and may write for the newsletter. The ET should inform all ostomy patients
about the local group. Cooperation and
togetherness are essential for promoting rehabilitation. Editor
Note: The ET's role has expanded
considerably in the past few years.
They are now tri-certified in wound, ostomy and continence care with
the designation of CWOCN, although they may be certified in only one or two
of the three areas. A tri-certified
nurse will utilize on average about 80% of his/her time in wound and
continence care and only about 20% with ostomies. What is a
CWOCN? Adapted Via ReRoute, CWOCN is an
abbreviation for a Certified Wound-Ostomy-Continence Nurse. A CWOCN is a Registered Nurse (RN) who has
received extensive training in managing conditions related to complicated
wounds, ostomies, or problems related to fecal and urinary incontinence. Some RNs choose to become specialists in
only one area. A CWOCN has at least a Bachelor’s degree
in nursing. In addition, the CWOCN has
received extensive training in anatomy and physiology; wound ostomy, and
continence management, patient teaching, prevention of complications;
appliance fitting and refitting; evaluation and consultation. ·
The CWOCN must pass a certifying examination
for each area of specialization, and become certified by the national
organization. The CWOCN must also
attend relevant continuing education sessions each year, and be re-certified
every five years. Here is how a CWOCN
can help. The CWOCN: ·
Consults with the physician to recommend
treatment for complicated wounds ·
Can teach the patient and family how to
manage wounds, ostomies, and continence after they leave the hospital ·
Can evaluate and fit ostomy appliances. This is helpful for new ostomates, and for
long-term ostomates who can no longer find the appliances they have been
using. ·
Has received training to assist the surgeon
in locating the best site on the abdomen for the ostomy to be placed during
surgery This is important to make
certain the ostomy is not put in a location, such as a crease or fold, that
could complicate pouch-wearing. ·
Can help identify the causes of
incontinence, and help manage it effectively while in the hospital and at
home. ·
Is an expert at preventing skin irritation
and pressure ulcers, and consults with doctors and other nurses to recommend
the best approach for each individual situation. CWOCNs are available not only in
hospital, but in outpatient settings, and when appropriate, in the home such
services are usually covered by insurance, but normally only when referred by
your physician. Home services are not
provided by hospital CWOCNs, but if the patient is covered, some home health
agencies have CWOCNs on their staffs. Ostomy
Nursing Credentials WOCN Internet
Site A nurse who is certified as a wound,
ostomy and continence nurse has voluntarily sought validation of expert
nursing knowledge, demonstrating a personal commitment to quality care and
seeks a means of self-regulation in order to protect the consumer. A Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN®)
has demonstrated knowledge in the assessment, management and product
selection for wounds caused by pressure ulcers, venous and arterial disease,
diabetes, draining incisions and traumatic injuries. A Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN®)
has demonstrated knowledge in the assessment, management and product
selection for patients in the preoperative and postoperative phases of
surgery, whether it is for an ileostomy, colostomy, urinary diversion or
fistula. These nurses may also do
ongoing management and problem solving. A Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN®)
has demonstrated knowledge in the assessment, management and product
selection in patients who have urinary or fecal incontinence. They have demonstrated knowledge in skin
care and ongoing health education for this group of patients. A Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence
Nurse (CWOCN®) has successfully completed requirements for all
three of the nursing specialties listed above. A CWOCN® is the only officially
recognized designation for certification in the Tri-specialty of wound,
ostomy and continence practice. The only officially recognized
designations for certification in an individual specialty are: ·
Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN)®
·
Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN)®
·
Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN)®
Requirements
for Certification 1. Currently licensed as a registered nurse 2. Baccalaureate degree 3. Completion and filing of an application for 4. Fulfill one of the following requirements: ·
Complete a WOC Nursing Education Program
that is accredited by WOCN. The
nursing education program must be accredited at the time of graduation. ·
Complete a graduate-level program in
nursing with documentation of graduate clinical course work equivalent to two
semester hours in each specialty for which certification is sought. ·
Have 50 Contact Hours (CEU) and 1500
clinical experience hours over the last five years within each specialty for
which certification is sought. |
