Objective: While the success of a WOC nurse has previously been measured on a patient by patient basis, the role is uniquely suited for application on a broader scale within a health care system. This presentation describes one WOC nurse leader’s use of the “unique knowledge of clinical and organizational systems”1 described in the WOC scope of practice, to impact resource utilization at a large level one trauma center. The appropriate use of specialty beds, negative pressure devices, and specialty wound care supplies were targeted for improvement.
Results: Moving the Equipment Team under Wound Care provided clinical expertise for specialty beds and negative pressure that saved the hospital $520, 000 in two years. The average length of therapy on negative pressure has dropped from 12 to 8 days. Standardizing2 wound care supplies provided evidence-based practice3, standardized education of nursing staff, reduced the number of vendors and saved $22,000 the first year. WOC nurses are change agents when we think big.