The Birth of the Blue Haired Lady

The Birth of the Blue Haired Lady

 Pressure ulcer prevention is a key role of the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse (WOCN) across the continuum.  However, WOCN’s are challenged to educate non-licensed caregiver’s about pressure ulcers. Traditional approaches such as power points, handouts, and realistic medical references are cumbersome and inappropriate to utilize in the community setting.  To solve this problem, a WOCN and a staff nurse paired together to create an innovative solution.  The Blue Haired Lady was born.  She is a handmade 3 ½ foot tall doll wearing a hospital gown.  She has interchangeable parts such as-1). Pressure ulcers: from stage I-IV, suspected deep tissue injury and unstageable and 2) removable appliances for an ileal conduit and a colostomy.  The doll is moveable to show patients how to sit on a commode and empty their appliances.  Most important, she can be touched without trepidation and is a humorous and non threatening educational strategy. 

 The Blue Haired Lady removes barriers to learning by instilling humor. Bastable 2008 states “Humor establishes an atmosphere that allows for human error without embarrassment and encourages freedom and comfort to explore.”  The Blue Haired Lady was such a success in the community that her role was expanded to include patients, family members and nursing staff.  The multiple levels of education and innovation are evident in the Blue Haired Lady’s impact on novel learning about pressure ulcers and ostomy care.