1604 WOCN Week Fund Raiser Opens Door for 'Tween with Double Ostomies to Attend Rally4Youth Camp

Ferne Alderfer, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, CWON, Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems, Clinical nurse IV, Richmond, VA
BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a time of developing personal identity, gaining independence, establishing relationships with peers, separating from parents and exploring   intimacy.  Adolescent ostomates have the added need to learn independence from a caregiver. Having a peer-to-peer support group such as Youth Rally Camp is a way to introduce the independence while being surrounded by others with similar experiences.OBJECTIVE: During WOC nurse week in April 2012, five wound and ostomy nurses raised awareness of daily living with ostomies through a fund raiser to support an adolescent to attend Youth Rally Camp.METHODS: Ostomy nurses at a medical center publicized the purpose and delivered the message of teaching adolescents with ostomies to live more independently. Each ostomy nurse wore an ostomy pouch, some with pudding or water, for 24-72 hours. Each ostomy nurse had a flier which described the fund raiser, including camp information and the goal of sending an adolescent from the medical center to camp. Hospital staff had the opportunity to donate on an hourly basis or a lump sum amount. The adolescent identified as the recipient has two ostomies since birth and each of the ostomy nurses have worked with the adolescent and  mother throughout the patient’s  lifetime as an ostomate.OUTCOMES: There was high participation of staff from the medical center.  Over a one week period in April, 2012, $2545 was raised, enough to send the adolescent and an ostomy nurse to Youth Rally Camp.CONCLUSION: The adolescent was able to participate in activities with others who were reaching adolescence. The adolescent is very interested in attending again and has been asked to write an article for the local Children’s Hospital. This unique fundraiser has potential to be replicated by other hospitals.