Positive Outcomes for the Health Care Organization: Benefits of Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing Service

Introduction: On many occasions I have been asked by health care professionals "what is it that you do?" The purpose of this presentation is to convey insight into the role of the wound, ostomy, continence nurse in the acute care setting. This brief presentation cannot encompass the complete role of the WOCN. It can only highlight the activities of the WOCN and their achievements that have had positive outcomes for the health care organization.

• Cost reduction: monitoring specialty bed and negative pressure wound therapy device rentals, reducing hospital acquired pressure ulcers, researching patient care products for efficacy.
• Staff education: staff orientation, providing clinical days for student nurses and family practice residents, WOCN Teaching Days, articles for organization nursing newsletter, poster presentations for organization teaching days, leading the organization's Wound, Ostomy, Continence Associate group ( WOCA), educating physicians for staging of pressure ulcers.
• Relationship-Based Care: using telemedicine to collaborate with other disciplines. Moving from a medical model to a patient model, a collaborative plan of care.
• Support of other disciplines: champions of infection control, patient safety, nutritional services.
• Patient advocacy: support right to refuse care, palliative care, end-of-life issues, right to a second opinion.
• Productivity: an accounting of practice activities and how time was spent on a daily basis.
• Nursing leadership: WOCNs present to Clinical Ladder II applicants; WOCNs have achieved Clinical Ladder III status.
• Evidence-based practice: Numerous QI projects completed, one research project ongoing for which the WOCN is the principle investigator.

Objectives: Viewers will identify options of WOC practice they may incorporate at their organization.

Conclusion: As the WOCN continues to strive for excellence in practice the health care organization will benefit through reaping positive outcomes including decreased length of stay, patient satisfaction, financial responsibility, and staff satisfaction.