Wound, Ostomy & Continence Patients,Specialized Nursing Can Alleviate Physical & Emotional Suffering

March 31, 2010 - PRLog -- Patients and families who are dealing with conditions such as non-healing wounds, bedsores, bladder and bowel incontinence and ostomy-related issues contend with physical symptoms, as well as social and emotional side effects. The impact on patients and families can exact an enormous toll. The Wound Ostomy & Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society is launching a campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of specialized care. “Place Your Care in the Hands of an Expert,” highlights the importance of expert nursing care in addressing the comprehensive needs of the wound, ostomy and continence patient. The awareness campaign focuses on educating patients and other professionals by making a poster, brochure and a patient request for WOC Nursing services available through the WOCN Website. The campaign is designed to build awareness of the role of the WOC Nurse, especially during WOC Nurses Week (April 18-24th)
Knowledge is Power
The issues related to wound, ostomy and continence conditions may be too embarrassing for many sufferers to acknowledge and discuss. But knowledge is power, and when patients have the support, insight and understanding of professionals with the education and certification to address physical conditions, as well as the less-often considered emotional issues, the road to increased independence, condition management and improved self esteem is within their reach. WOC Nurses are committed to providing quality care.
Wound, Ostomy & Continence Issues, More Common than Many Realize
Just how common are wound, ostomy and continence conditions in the U.S.? The facts are startling:
-Non-healing wounds affect a significant number of people. They are responsible for considerable pain, suffering and loss of function. Furthermore, without proper treatment, wounds can become infected and threaten loss of limb or life.
-Pressure ulcers (or bedsores) affect 10% of people in hospitals. Older adults are the group that is most susceptible.
-It is estimated that over 12 million Americans struggle with some form of urinary incontinence
-Approximately 5.5 million Americans may experience episodes of fecal incontinence
-One third of all men and women between the ages of 30-70, will experience loss of bladder or bowel control at some point in their adult lives.
-750,000 people in the US have an ostomy, a surgically created opening in the body to allow body waste to pass through.
- 75,000 fecal and urinary ostomies are created annually.
-Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease may eventually create wound and incontinence issues without a preventive care plan.
The WOC Nurse: An Important Addition to the Health Care Team
We live in the age of the specialist. Why? Due to the complex nature of medical and health conditions, specialists are uniquely qualified to recognize and treat conditions within a specific diagnosis. The mark of a specialist is a unique set of skills and body of knowledge. The repertoire of skills that are the hallmark of the WOC Nurse are much more detailed than those of the nurse generalist or staff nurse. Does this special training make a difference? Studies document that patients with wound, ostomy and continence issues achieve better results when a WOC Nurse is involved in care. WOC Nurses also ensure more cost effective treatment, a stronger emphasis on preventive strategies, and, in some cases, decreased reliance on drug therapy and equipment.
WOC Nurses Certified by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board have demonstrated that they have voluntarily sought validation of their expert nursing knowledge. These experts may hold one or more of the following certification credentials: CWOCN® , CWCN®,  COCN® , CCCNsm , , CWONsm ,  and CFCN®
How to Place Your Care in the Hands of an Expert
WOC Nurses work for agencies, hospitals, nursing facilities and other institution. It is a specialization that came to prominence in the 1970’s. Patients interested in securing the assistance of a WOC Nurse should speak to their physician, nursing supervisor or case manager. As is so often the case with a highly sought after specialization, demand may exceed supply. Should that happen it is best to contact a hospital administrator to make your needs known. By going to the www.wocn.org Website, patients can download a copy of a letter expressing the need for more WOC Nurses. Delivering a signed copy to an administrator or supervisor will help document demand.
Where to Go for More Information
To find out more about the different services provided by WOC Nurses, visit the WOCN Website at www.wocn.org. Materials related to the WOCN awareness campaign may also be downloaded at www.wocn.org.

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The WOCN Society is a professional nursing society that promotes educational, clinical and research opportunities to advance the practice and guide the delivery of expert health care to individuals with wounds, ostomies and incontinence.