President's Message

Patricia Gable Burke,
BSN, RN, CWOCN

All of us who hold the WOCNCB credentials have worked hard to achieve them. We all work to insure that our patients receive care that will provide the best outcomes. Part of our professional practice is to promote our credentials to our patients, administrators and to the public. In a time when many in our field feel some confusion about credentials, it is important to educate everyone about what makes the WOCNCB credentials " The Gold Standard for Certification."

As nurses, we are used to taking care of other's needs and not promoting the great things that we do. That is why it is important for you to promote yourself. Marketing does not have to be expensive to be effective. When introducing yourself to patients, families and staff members identify yourself as a Board Certified Wound, Ostomy, Continence and/or Foot Care Nurse. This introduction will usually lead to questions about what a certified nurse is and what type of education is required to become certified. Have your credentials on your name tag and include Board Certified on your business cards. Promote the value of your credentials to your administrators. When they recognize the value that you bring to the facility, the services of a CWOCN or CFCN become a marketing tool for your facility.

Marketing your credentials does not have to be a daunting task, but the time to start is now. You may feel that no one is listening, but implementing the steps above will be the start of your marketing plan. Begin by educating your patients and administrators on the value of the certified nurse. Contact the WOCNCB Office and ask for the marketing brochures "Are Your Nurses Board Certified?" and "You Deserve Expert Care." You can receive 25 of each of these brochures free of charge.

Ladies and gentlemen, I urge you to wake up the healthcare community and those we serve - talk about the value we bring as Certified Wound, Ostomy, Continence and Foot Care Nurses.

Help the WOCNCB Reach LPNs/LVNs...Call for Survey Respondents

In May 2008, the WOCNCB announced the exploration of providing a unique credential to LPN/LVNs. A feasibility study for the credential will be based on job analysis surveys completed by LPNs/LVNs. We ask you to invite your LPN/LVN colleagues to participate by sending their contact information to Kathy Meyer via email to info@wocncb.org or call 1-888-496-2622.

If the LPNs/LVNs on your team wonder how a WOCNCB Certification could serve them, have them read what the LPNs/LVNs on the Alternative Certification Committee have to say:

As an LPN...How will a WOCNCB Certification Serve You?

"Being certified is a great way to increase patients' comfort and quality of life. By having the validation and resources provided by the WOCNCB, you become an asset to not only the community, but other caregivers and nurses as well. Certification provides advanced knowledge and credibility to your everyday practice."

Heidi Thomas, LPN

"The validation of knowledge that comes with the certification would help me give evidence-based nursing to my residents."

Karin J. Henzel, LPN

"In search of a more fulfilling career, several years ago I decided to become certified as a Massage Therapist and than an Aesthetician. I was specifically intrigued with providing good skin care. My involvement in this role led me to expand my interest in trying and researching skin care products and their ingredients.

The next step in expanding my knowledge and career was to return to Nursing School. Once I graduated from nursing school I went to work in an Acute Care Setting. I obtained experience as a MSU, PCU, ED and Pediatric nurse.

While working in an Acute Care I had an opportunity to work with three Board Certified WOCN nurses who were always full of information and answered any questions I had. I learned a lot from these nurses and because of them my interest in wound care was ignited.

I was always interested in wounds and amazed at how something so beyond repair could become essentially normal. I learned from a fellow nurse that we opened a Wound Care/Hyperbaric Center, which I than transferred to. I trained with Medical Multiplex//National Healing for Wound Care and became a Certified Hyperbaric Tech. Since than I have taken on a Position in Long Term/Rehab care as a Manager of Wound Care in 192 bed facility and absolutely love what I do.

Becoming Board Certified would offer me the ability to be recognized for the education and skills I have achieved. I also look forward to being a member of a well recognized group and having the ability to learn from others in the wound care field."

Joella Hornbeck, LPN, CMT, CHT,SCS

Left to right: Peggy McGarity (Egleston Campus), Trish Burdett (Scottish Rite & Egleston campuses), Megan Reese (Scottish Rite campus), & Marie Oren-Sosebee (Coordinator, Scottish Rite & Egleston campuses)

Board-Certified Nurses:
Validated Through Life Experiences

Marie Oren-Sosebee, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing Coordinator

When people ask me what I do for a living, I find it a difficult topic to elaborate upon. It's not exactly a well-understood role to the layman's ears, and one doesn't go around discussing the job details over cocktails and dinner with first-time acquaintances. First, I have to feel out their general medical knowledge by asking questions like, "Have you ever heard of a colostomy?" If they reply in the affirmative, I then tell them I'm a specialist who takes care of babies and kids with bladder and intestine problems that often end up in an ostomy. If they reply in the negative, I then briefly explain that an ostomy is an opening usually in the intestines where poop or pee comes out into a little pouch, and so I teach the family and child how to take care of it. Sometimes, I choose the other side of my credentialing and explain that I'm a nurse that specializes in wound care. Looks of horror usually pass over the listener's face as they respond with questions like, "What kind of wounds would a child need to see a specialist for?" Either way, for wound or ostomy care explanations, my answer usually shuts people up unless they are in the medical field or have had personal experience with a wound or ostomy nurse. Then again, there is the rare type of morbidly curious person who then wants to hear all about what my job entails.

I have been in my role for six years now, and during that time, I have met more staff members who were personally dealing with ostomy care needs either for themselves or for family members. Here are three of my most memorable stories of colleagues & employees who I developed a unique bond with in my role as a pediatric WOC Nurse…

Children aren't just little people. They are little people with big imaginations.

• In 2005, I received an email from the assistant-manager in our technology-dependent intensive care unit. Through a series of emails and phone calls, she had received a request for guidance in helping a toddler in Iraq with an ileostomy. Apparently, a US Army medic from Georgia was stationed somewhere in Baghdad and had been approached by an Iraqi soldier, the father of this child, for help. Born with imperforate anus, a crude ileostomy was created in the right side of the toddler's abdomen along a difficult pouching plane. The father had no access to ostomy supplies or skin care protective creams, and so the child had a towel wrapped around his body to collect the stool. For 10 months, this little one suffered in the heat and sandstorms, undergoing constant skin exposure to enzymatic output that literally ate away his entire abdomen, right flank, and right thigh.
  
  The US Army medic took pictures of the child's abdomen and started sending emails to the States requesting help. Through a series of correspondence, donation, and collaboration with several manufacturing companies, we were able to send three months of skin care protective barrier ointments/powders, pediatric pouching supplies, toys, and clothing. I included specific skin/ostomy care instructions that were later translated into Arabic. Unfortunately, due to the security risks involved in out-of-country transportation, this child was unable to be brought to the US for further charitable care and surgical correction. Contact information was provided to the Army medic for further assistance in obtaining future supplies for this Iraqi father. After notification that the medic received my shipped supplies, I never received further follow-up. In my heart, I hope this little one has or had some quality of life that he would have otherwise never been exposed to had it not been for mere coincidence and the dedication of those wanting to help.
• In 2006, the Quality & Performance Improvement consultant assigned to my Wound, Ostomy and Continence Department to work on pediatric pressure ulcer initiatives discovered her mother had bladder cancer. Unsure of the entire diagnosis and what to expect, she brought her mother to my office one day for pre-op education. Using my own pediatric techniques and dolls, I provided adult pre-op ileal conduit education to a 54 year-old! I then encouraged them to seek out a Board Certified WOC Nurse who performed pre-op stoma site marking and further pre-op and post-op education for the adult population within their surgical facility WOC Nursing Department. I also connected them to the UOAA support networks and manufacturing companies' ostomy educational personnel. Through my relationship with this colleague and my own networking with the local Atlanta area WOC Nurse Consortium group, I was able to bridge the gap and connect them with the adult resources needed. My colleague's mother had clear expectations of her surgery, recovered beautifully, and adapted quickly to her new life. On the flip side, I learned more than my fair share of quality improvement processes that can be the driving force for change within our patient population. The personal experience with this colleague formed a lasting bond that later facilitated department expansion and acknowledgement through quality-driven improvement efforts. Holding the Gold Standard credential in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence has proven to be life changing for myself and those all around me.
• In 2007, I received an email from a nurse concerning the Dream House for Medically Fragile Children. The Dream House is a not-for-profit community-based facility designed to help train families caring for medically fragile children. This nurse was responsible for designing a community-based ostomy-training course. After reviewing her genuine effort at creating an ostomy education course, we both determined that it needed a Board Certified WOC nurse's expert touch. Volunteer collaboration with the Dream House resulted in my WOC Nursing department designing and implementing a six-hour pediatric ostomy-training curriculum course. As a result, the Dream House now owns and provides a quarterly ostomy training class for potential foster and adoptive families. Without this program, these families may never have been exposed to the experienced care from a pediatric WOC Nurse unless of course the child was acutely ill and hospitalized in our pediatric facility. Once again, our Board Certified WOC Nurses were able to bridge the gap from hospital to community, avoiding the potential for unnecessary hospitalization, skin issues, supply needs, and resource guidance.

The "thank-you's" I receive each day from families of teenagers who grew up as children with ostomies continually validate my role as a Board Certified WOC nurse. These are families that I can now refer to new-diagnosis patients for support and comfort. I have a network of teens that routinely look forward to attending the Youth Rally camp each summer. One boy wrote me a letter thanking me for sending him to camp so he could meet other kids with the same gut issues. During a recent PICU hospitalization, the Rally support network consisting of kids, counselors and dedicated WOC nurses cheered him on, sending him CarePage messages, balloons, and cards of encouragement. This is what he remembers most about that hospitalization, rather than the needles, pain, and surgery.

Different strokes for different folks, that's what I say. Whatever the case may be for a person interested in becoming a Board Certified wound, ostomy, and continence nurse, it is a rewarding field. Ever changing, constantly challenging, and never boring and truly the Gold Standard. It was my calling, and I'm glad it found me.

Congratulations on Being Board Certified !

Congratulations! You now join more than 5,300 nurses Board Certified in wound, ostomy, continence and/or foot care. The following individuals became board certified or recertified in January - March 2008.

Karen L. Abshire, BSN RN CWCN Ozenna D. Acerson, RN CWCN COCN Karen Louise Adams, BSN RN CWOCN Adamma Ajufoh, BSN RN CWON CCCN Jo Ann B. Armstrong, BSN RN CWCN COCN Colette Armstrong, BSN RN CWCN Margaret H. Armstrong, RN CWOCN Michelle Ashman, BSN RN CWOCN Susan Bainbridge, BS RN CWON Donna Baird, BSN RN CWOCN Amanda Marie Ball, BSN RN CWOCN Denise N. Barton, BSN RN CWCN Carol A. Beaves, BSN RN CWOCN Teri M. Berger, BSN RN CWCN Linda Berti Hearn, MSN RN CWOCN Carol A. Bistran, RN CWON Ann C. Blackett, MSN RN CWON Grace Blaney, MSN RN CWOCN Patricia Blaschak, BA RN CWOCN Ronda M. Bowles, BSN RN CWON Max R. Boykin, Jr., BSN RN CWCN Kathy A. Boyle, BSN RN CWOCN Jacalyn A. Brace, MSN RN CWOCN Nora Brennan, MSN RN CWOCN Joani Browning, BSN RN CWON Louise S. Bruner, BSN RN CWCN COCN Martha Jane Burch, BSN RN COCN CCCN Deborah Burdzinski, BSN RN CWCN Joanna J. Burgess, BSN RN CWOCN Lisa Marie Burke, MSN RN COCN Carl A. Burroughs, BSN RN CWCN COCN Linda D. Busch, BS RN CFCN Shirley B. Cameron, MSN RN CWCN APRN Ann Marie Carlin, BSN RN CWOCN Kirk Mathews Carlos, RN CWCN COCN CCCN Carole L. Carlson, BSN RN CWCN Mary J. Carroll, BSN RN CWCN Heather Casper, BSN RN CWON Rose A. Castilla, BSN RN CWOCN Kerry London Chaffers, MSN RN CWOCN Laurie A. Chavasse, BS RN CWCN Kristine Clouse, BSN RN CWOCN Jennifer Ryan Cluff, BSN RN CWON Evelyn Coe, MSN RN CFCN Teri Coha, MSN RN CWOCN Brenda Cohen, MSN RN CWOCN Sharon L. Cohen, BSN RN CWCN Almeda W. Conner, RN COCN Alisha Conrad, RN CFCN Paula J. Cooper, MSN RN CWON Judy B. Cornwell, BSN RN CWON Nicola Jane Coviello, BSN RN CWON Sara Coverstone, BSN RN CWOCN Rosemary M. Cox, BS RN CWCN Tanya Crawford, BSN RN CWON Angela M. D'Oriocourt, BS RN CWOCN Barbara A. Dale, BSN RN CWCN COCN Jennifer Darrow, BSN RN CWOCN CFCN Shawn M. Dagnino, BSN RN CWOCN Mary E. Daniels, BSN RN CWCN Amy P. Davidson, BSN RN CWCN COCN Laura A. Davis, BSN RN CWCN Matthew J. Davis, BSN RN CWOCN Karen Day, RN BSN CWCN COCN CCCN Sandra Delvecchio, BSN RN CWOCN Ruth B. Denny, BSN RN CWON Patricia A. Deryke, MSN RN CWCN Laura K. Devillier, BSN RN CWOCN CFCN Madelon C. Deweese, BSN RN CWCN Kimberly Sue Hill Dewitt, BSN RN CWCN Marilyn Donan, BSN RN CWOCN Erin Moore Donohoe, BSN RN CWON Anna Elliott Douglass, BSN RN CWOCN Jerri T. Drain, RN CWON Sherrie M. Dugas, RN CWOCN CFCN Robin F. Edelman, MSN RN CWON Kenda K. Ekdahl, BSN RN CWCN Denise Elber, RN CWOCN B Yvonne Fankhanel, BSN RN CWOCN Meghan Colleen Flatley Smith, BSN RN CWOCN Cynthia M. Fleischner-Jacques, BA RN CWOCN Monika H. Fodor, BSN RN CWOCN Beatrice Forlizzi, BSN RN CWOCN Lauri Ann Fowler, MSN RN CWOCN Kathleen F. Francis, BSN RN CWOCN Jocelyne J. Francois, RN CWON Cathy D. Frank, BSN RN CWOCN Nancy Ann Frank, BSN RN CWON Merrill Fraser, MSN RN CWOCN Marva Fretheim, MSN RN CWCN CFCN Jan E. Gammon, MSN RN CWOCN Barbara Jane Gijanto, BA RN CWOCN Jason Glade, MSN RN CWCN Renee Gleitz, BSN RN CWCN Sharon I. Goldberg, MSN RN CWOCN Audie Gonzales, BSN RN CWCN Susan Goodall Embree, BSN RN CWON Nancy M. Green, MSN RN CWOCN Cynthia C. Greene, BSN RN CWCN Karen A. Griffin, BSN RN CWCN Elizabeth A. Guess, MSN RN CWCN Claude Guillory, BSN RN COCN Dmitry Gurtovoy, RN CWON CCCN Cynthia A. Haines, MSN RN CWCN Marcia Hansen, BSN RN CWON Renee Hart, BA RN CWCN CCCN Sandra Lee Hartman, RN CWCN CCCN COCN Judy Kaye Hawkins, BSN RN CCCN Lisa D. Heitkemper, BSN RN CWOCN Michelle Henderson, BSN RN CWOCN H Ann Hepworth, BA RN CWCN Susan Hermida, MSN RN CWCN Bruno Hernandez, BSN RN CWCN Susan Hess, BSN RN CWON Barbara J. Hocevar, BSN RN CWOCN Catharine M. Hogan, MSN RN CWCN Melanie Holden-Pichelmann, BSN RN CWOCN Rene Holland, RN CWON Diane Irene Holmstadt, RN CFCN Delana Howe, BSN RN CWCN Patricia Howe, BSN RN CWOCN Sandra Jean Hunter, BSN RN CWOCN Deborah A. Ingram, RN PhD CWCN Mary Ann Johnson, BA RN CWCN Amie D. Jones, RN CWOCN Felicher Jones, MSN RN CWOCN Maureen Jones, BSN RN CWOCN Tillie Maria Jones, BS RN CWOCN Kathleen B. Jowers, RN CWOCN Dawn Marie Julian, MSN RN CWON CCCN Barbara E. Kane, MSN RN CWCN Theresa Karabian, BSN RN CWOCN Kiyoko Kashiwai, BSN RN CWCN Elizabeth Ann Katzenberger, RN CFCN Kathleen Kehmna, MSN RN CWON Rebecca Keller, RN CFCN Luisa P. Kelly, MSN RN COCN CCCN Linda Kerr, MSN RN CFCN Kathryn Khandaker, BSN RN CWCN Jane Kimberley, MSN RN CWCN Mary Lynn King, BSN RN CWOCN Linda Kerr, MSN RN CFCN Kathryn Khandaker, BSN RN CWCN Kathryn Khandaker, BSN RN CWCN Jane Kimberley, MSN RN CWCN Mary Lynn King, BSN RN CWOCN Jeanne L. Knecht, BS RN CWON Cristina M. Kraiter, BSN RN CWCN Annamma J. Kunnathusseril, BSN RN CWOCN

Brenda Laboda, BSN RN CWCN Charlotte G. Lafferty, MSN RN COCN CCCN Carol A. Landeck, BSN RN CWCN Kristine A. Lardie, RN BSN CWCN COCN CCCN Renate C. Lawrence, BSN RN CFCN Michele Leblanc, BSN RN CWON Benita M. Lee, MSN RN CWCN CFCN R. Kim J. Lee, CWOCN Honey Lyn L. Lerias, BSN RN CWCN Constance J. Lewis, RN COCN Mary E. Lewis, BSN RN CWON Robyn K. Lindamood, RN BSN CWCN COCN CCCN Jacquelyn Loper, BSN RN CWOCN Connie M. Lueck, BSN RN CWCN CFCN Michael Makrakis, BSN RN Maryam Mamou, BSN RN CWON Sandra K. Mapel, BSN RN CCCN Anne Markovich, BSN RN CWON Yanick Martelly, MSN RN CWOCN Yvonne Martineau, BSN RN CWON Patricia A. Martinez-Morales, BSN RN CWCN Eileen Patricia Martois, BSN RN CWOCN Marilyn Mastin, BSN RN CWCN Hugo L. Mathiesen, BS RN CWOCN Terill Matteis, BSN RN CWCN Teresa Matthews, MSN RN CWCN Peggy W. McCracken, BSN RN CWCN CCCN Misty McCutchen, BSN RN CWOCN CFCN Jeanette McFeely, BSN RN CWOCN Nina M. McKinstry, BSN RN CWOCN Mary H. McLamb, RN CWON Helen C. Medlin, MSN RN CWCN Patricia J. Mekker, BSN RN COCN Janet L. Meyer, BSN RN CWCN CFCN Patti Michel-Evleth, BSN RN CWCN Susan Mierau, BSN RN CWOCN Cynthia S. Miller, BSN RN CWCN Rebecca Milliken, BSN RN CWCN Mary C. Misiaszek, CWCN COCN CCCN Stephanie A. Mnich, MSN CWCN Claudette G. Moore, RN BSN CWCN COCN CCCN Grace C. Moren, BSN RN CWCN COCN Joni Morris, BSN RN CWCN Theresa Morton, RN BSN CWCN COCN CCCN Dolores N. Mueller, MSN RN CWON Mary R. Narayan, BSN RN CWOCN Connie Nellum, MSN RN CWCN Rhonda A. Newberry, BSN RN CWOCN Susan E. Newton, BSN RN CWOCN Hien Nguyen, BSN RN CWCN Cecelia Nugent, MSN RN CWON Theresa M. O'Connor, BSN RN CWON Angela Okeke, RN CWCN Diane E. Padlo, BSN RN CWOCN Kelly Anne M. Paige, BSN RN CWON Danielle Palen, BSN RN CWOCN Kimberly Parlock, BSN RN CWON Diane M. Paskey, BS RN CWCN Patricia M. Paxton-Alan, MSN RN CWON CCCN Babette A. Pennay, RN CWOCN Lisa Ann Perez, BSN RN CWON Jacqueline Y. Perkins, MSN RN CWOCN Bernice Perzel, MSN RN CWCN Molly O. Pierce, BSN RN CWOCN Pamela J. Pinkleton, BSN RN CWON Elaine Phillips, MSN RN CWCN Dawn M. Pierce, BS RN CFCN Pamela J. Pinkleton, BSN RN CWON Arja Polley, BSN, RN, CWOCN Mary T. Polzin, BSN RN COCN CWCN Maureen A. Porras, BSN RN COCN CCCN Gloria Potts, RN CFCN Evelyn Quintin, RN CWCN COCN Janice E. Ranger, RN BSN CWCN COCN CCCN Heather Raub, BSN RN CWOCN Megan Kathleen Reese, BSN RN COCN CCCN Karrie E. Rennick, BSN RN CWON Debra Ristow, BSN RN CWCN Kaye L. Roberts Helbley, BSN RN CFCN Jeffrey Robinson, BS RN CWOCN Paula Roxanne Rivard, BSN RN CWOCN Sandra Dee Rohr, BSN RN CWON CCCN Lois L. Ross, RN CWCN COCN CCCN Setlidz Saint-Louis, BS RN CWCN Ellen K. Saling, BSN RN CFCN Nora Sammon, BSN RN COCN Lynn M. Sarr, MSN RN CWOCN Barbara Saunders, BSN RN CWON Reba L. Scharf, MSN RN CWCN April D. Schillinger, BS RN CWOCN Donna V. Schlenker, BSN RN CWCN Carol M. Schlicher, BSN RN CWCN Sharon Scullen, MSN RN CWOCN Melissa Anne Seales, BSN RN CWCN Catharine E. Sellers, MSN RN CWOCN Marla Shepherd, RN CFCN Lori J. Shrawder, BSN RN CWCN COCN Joan C. Sjolander, BSN RN CWOCN Jeannine M. Sorensen, BSN RN CWCN Bonnie J. Sparks-Defriese, BSN RN CWCN Jennifer C. Spencer, BSN RN CWCN Nancy C. Stapp, MSN RN CWOCN Nanci H. Stark, BSN RN CWCN Bethany Stathakis, BSN RN CWOCN Trina J. Staton, MSN RN CWON Laurie S. Stelmaski, BSN RN CWOCN Linda E. Stephens, BSN MS RN CWOCN Catherine L. Suk, BSN RN CWOCN Elizabeth W. Swap, RN CWON MSN CDE Catherine Templeton, BSN RN COCN Bonita B. Terry, BSN RN CWCN Bessie Gay Thomas, BSN RN CWCN Cynthia Glenn Timms, BSN RN CWOCN Kathryn May Torrey, BSN RN CWOCN Jo Ann Valent, BSN RN CWCN CCCN Judith A. Van Driel, RN CWOCN Erica Van Gemeren Thibault, RN MS CWON Janet Vervaecke, BSN RN CWCN Delia L. Viator, BSN RN CFCN Cristie Vickers, BSN RN CWOCN Deshea Waguespack, BSN RN CWOCN Denise L. Walker, MSN RN CWON Audrey K. Warolin, BSN RN CWCN COCN Marion Grace Waugh, RN CWCN Christie R. Webb, BSN RN CCCN Therese R. Wells, BSN RN CWON Jolie Wesley, BSN RN CWCN Brenda D. Wessel, BSN RN CWON Suzanne White, RN CWOCN Kristi L. Williamson, BSN RN CWOCN Lori Monique Wilson, BSN RN COCN CCCN Kimberly T. Winton, BSN RN CWON Kathy M. Witta, MSN RN CWOCN Theresa M. Woods, RN CWCN John Worsham, BSN RN CWOCN Virginia Kay Young, BSN RN CWCN Xenia Zamora, RN CWCN COCN CCCN Kena Zebert, RN CWCN COCN CCCN

FAQs

Q: My credentials lapsed several years ago. I changed jobs and need to recertify. What do I do?
A: Effective January 1, 2009, any certificant with lapsed credentials greater than two years is required to prove eligibility via the Experiential Pathway. Be aware that any use of the Board Certification designation when credentials are lapsed is unauthorized and constitutes fraud.

Q: I passed the Certification Exams, but when will I receive my Certificate?
A: Certificates are issued quarterly, about a month following the quarterly testing periods. Example: if you tested in July, the certificate would be issued the end of October, since testing for that quarter was from July through September.

Q: I missed the deadline for (re)certification. What do I do?
A: Late applications are accepted if postmarked no later than 30 days following the deadline published in the current handbook and on the website. A late fee of $75.00 applies. For more information, see www.wocncb/recertification/deadlines.php. Remember, if your certification period has expired, you cannot use your credentials when signing your name. Download an application and submit it according to the guidelines published on the www.wocncb.org website.

Q: I receive reimbursement for certification fees. How can I obtain a receipt?
A: Payment is processed when your application is received at Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP), our testing agency. Please contact AMP directly at 1-888-519-9901 to request a receipt.

THE AMAZING STORY OF BECOMING A BOARD CERTIFIED NURSE: ONE NURSE'S PERSPECTIVE

Jessie L. Dickerson, MSN, RN, CWON-AP, CFCN
Retired

This is a true story about how I eventually became an Advanced Practice Board Certified Wound, Ostomy Nurse while working as a staff nurse at the Department of Veterans Affairs at Birmingham, Alabama. The events that catapulted me into position for this to happen started in July, 1985. It was during this time period that I was approached by the Hospital Director and asked if I would be interested in assuming the role as the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Clinical Nurse Specialist in our newly opened Spinal Cord Injury Support Clinic. Of course, I said "Yes." This was a great opportunity to get this new clinic off the ground and running. It was a nurse-run clinic and I was responsible for the day to day operations of the clinic in collaboration with the Chief of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine.

The Support Clinic started with an enrollment data base of over 400 SCI veterans in the State of Alabama that had access to receive all of the services that were offered in this first of its kind Veterans Administration (VA) SCI Support Clinic in Alabama. I brought to the table an extensive background in Rehabilitation Nursing and I had experience working with spinal cord injury clients from acute OD injury throughout the rehabilitative phase.

One of the major complications of SCI clients is the high incidence of pressure ulcers in this population due to their lack or loss of motor and sensory functions. I, therefore, saw and treated many SCI clients with pressure ulcers and incontinent issues. One of the things I quickly realized was that I had limited knowledge on ways to successfully treat our SCI veterans with often times multiple pressure ulcers. I did, however, know when I was in over my head and needed to call on the Board Certified WOC nurses, who are the experts in wound, ostomy and continence care, for help. We are very fortunate in our community to be blessed with a considerable number of Board Certified WOC nurses that work in acute care, long term care, industry, home health and some who have established their own businesses and provide contractual services. I found these nurses to be a well organized and cohesive group who willingly shared their knowledge and expertise in helping me to select the right treatments for my SCI patients. I soon found myself admiring and respecting this powerful and energetic group of Board Certified WOC nurses who so graciously shared their time and skills with me. I was a quick learner and it wasn't long before the success I was having in healing the pressure ulcers of SCI patients began to spread throughout the Medical Center. As a result, I found myself suddenly swamped with consults from Medicine, Surgery and Primary Care physicians for me to see their patients with pressure ulcers and offer the same services. I did my best, but it soon became overwhelming. It took me five long years of gathering statistical data such as pressure ulcer prevalence and incidence rates in our facility to convince Nursing Administration that we had a serious problem with pressure ulcers in our facility and we needed a FTE position for a Board Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse.

After five years, we had a turn over in leadership in nursing service and the new Chief Nurse had vast experience with certified wound, ostomy and continence nurses and knew the value of what that person could offer to a facility especially in the area of quality and positive outcomes of patient care. When I presented my data to the new Chief Nurse, she immediately agreed with me that we, indeed, needed the expertise of a wound, ostomy and continence nurse working in our facility. It wasn't long afterwards, that an FTE position was posted for a CWOCN.

I began to spread the word throughout the community to our local CWOCN's about the position so they could apply if interested. I was confident that any one of them could perform the job and I waited excitedly to hear which one of the applicants got the job. Well, to my utter amazement, none of the applicants was hired and I was devastated. Finally, after waiting another six months with no one filling the position, I became upset. Matter of fact, to be downright honest, I was more than upset—I was angry. My workload had tripled and I was sinking fast. One day I got up the nerve and barged into the Chief Nurse's office to again complain about the overwhelming workload and the need to bring an expert CWOCN on board. At this point I informed the Chief Nurse "If you are not going to hire any of the qualified CWOC nurses that applied for the job, then, send me for the training." Well, to my surprise, the Chief Nurse smiled at me and said "Okay." I almost passed out. One thing I learned from this encounter is be careful what you ask for, you may just get it! This was, in my opinion, a setup. Nevertheless, I must say that I have never regretted taking this bold stance, no not once. It was the best thing that I could have done for me as well as for my patients.

The rest is history.

That is how I ended up becoming a well satisfied Board Certified Advanced Practice Wound Ostomy Nurse and Certified Foot Care Nurse. This career enhancement has been both beneficial financially as well as clinically. I have been able to give back to the entire hospital with the knowledge and skills invested in me at the Emory University Enterostomal Therapist Nursing Program under the tutelage of Dorothy Doughty, MSN, RN, FNP, CWOCN, FAAN. They don't come any better than Dorothy who is still the wind beneath my wings.

Departing Volunteers

Volunteers with WOCNCB are greatly appreciated for donating expertise and leadership to the projects and activities of the Board and Committees. We especially want to thank the following volunteers who are completing their terms of service with WOCNCB. We admire their professionalism and appreciate everything they have given. Join us in thanking them for their achievements!

Marilyn J. Burmark, RN, ARNP, CWOCN
Marketing Committee, 2007 - 2008

Jessie L. Dickerson, MSN, RN, CWON-AP, CFCN
Marketing Committee, 2007 - 2008

Cathy Thomas Hess, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Marketing Committee, 2007 - 2008

Kathleen D. Wright, MS, APRN, CWOCN, CHRN
Board Member, 2003 - 2008

What the WOCNCB is doing for you… the Valued Certificant

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB®) has been in full force this past year. Our initiatives have been focused to assist our Certificants so that they, in turn, can help their customers—patients, physicians, and administrations—achieve their collective goals. The following is a brief review of the features that the WOCNCB is providing the Valued Certificant:

Marketing materials are provided through the WOCNCB's office. These materials include:

1. Pocket portfolios that can be used to make packets with brochures and materials for patients at your facility.
2. Contact the WOCNCB office at info@wocncb.org for your free packet of brochures (25 each of the following): "Are Your Nurses Board Certified" and "You Deserve Expert Care."
3. Mikel Gray's presentation that was presented during the WOCN Society Conference, entitled "Marketing the Gold Standard: Educating Others About WOCNCB Certification," is available for downloading on the WOCNCB website.
   http://www.wocncb.org/resources/marketing-resources/market-your-certification.php

The Website has been fully redesigned, making it more inviting, more user-friendly and providing more information to each visitor. It is now easier to find information on becoming certified OR to recertify. The website also includes information for the Administrator/CEO, Nurse, and Patient, so refer people to visit www.wocncb.org.

The Newsletter is also new and improved, plus we have added two electronic versions of the newsletter in order to meet the needs of our expanding population of certificants. We are always interested in articles provided by our Certificants, so please consider sharing your successes and challenges, with articles on how certification has impacted you.

Visibility and value of our credentials have been raised through our presence at various conferences. In addition to a major presence at the WOCN Society conference, we spoke with countless administrators at the American Organization of Nursing Executives, World Council of Enterostomal Therapists, and the Clinical Symposium on Advances in Skin and Wound Care.

Exploration in offering new credentials for nurses working with patients who have wound, ostomy or continence issues. The WOCNCB is sensitive to the competition that our industry is facing. It has explored alternative credentialing for the RN without a BSN but was unable to clearly differentiate the scope of practice between the ADN and BSN. The Board has chosen a subsequent path of potentially certifying LPNs/LVNs. This again would be a separate and distinct certification from the one the WOCNCB Certificants currently hold.
http://www.wocncb.org/pdf/Job_Analysis.pdf

Formulation of the Evidenced-Based Research Committee. Keeping up with all of the research that is underway for the individual nurse is a daunting - if not Herculean task. The WOCNCB has funded the development of a new committee whose task is collecting and reviewing the latest literature on wound, ostomy and continence practice in order to verify that the WOCNCB exams are current in today's nursing world. The Evidenced-Based Research Committee is busy compiling new research, and the results of this committee's work will be shared among all Certificants in the future.

Recognition. The WOCNCB has learned to recognize the monumental accomplishment of becoming board certified, and has implemented a few initiatives to achieve this.

1. All new and recertified certificants are published in our quarterly newsletter
2. Three WOCNCB Certification Grants awarded each year, to new or recertifying Certificants
3. WOCNCB Employer Recognition Award, presented to a special organization that has shown support by employing and encouraging WOCNCB-certified nurses. http://www.wocncb.org/awards-and-grants/

In closing, your feedback is vital to us. If you have specific needs in promoting your credential, please voice them to the WOCNCB. Please contact the WOCNCB office (info@wocncb.org) to submit comments, questions and suggestions. All opinions are welcomed. Thank you!

Calendar of Events

The WOCNCB will be attending various conferences throughout 2009. Please visit us if you are there.