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Congratulations to the 2023 WOC Institute Academic Award Winners! Thank you to everyone who applied this year. 7 Generations Medical Ltd Award This Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Education Program (WOC-EP) Award of $5,250 recognizes an Indigenous WOC-EP graduate who has demonstrated a high degree of volunteerism with, and in support of, people in the Indigenous community. Winner: Christina Przenioslo Clement LeBlanc Memorial Scholarship The Clement LeBlanc Memorial Scholarship is an annual award presented to a New Brunswick WOC-EP graduate with the highest academic marks. Winner: Jeremy Caul Coloplast Clinical Achievement Award in Continence Care This Coloplast Award for Excellence in Continence Care is a $1,000 award presented to a WOC-EP student who displays excellence in Continence Care, with the highest academic achievement in the continence course. Winner: Catherine Bernier Hollister Award for Post-Graduate Studies Supported by Hollister Limited, this award is open to an NSWOC who is an active NSWOCC member pursuing a Master’s, or PhD degree. Winner: Julie Gagnon Hollister Clinical Achievement Award in Ostomy Care The Hollister Award for Excellence in Ostomy Care by an WOC-EP Student provides an award of $1000.00 annually to a student who displays excellence in Ostomy Care. Winner: Jessica Larose Hollister Skin Wellness Associate Nurse Leadership Award The Hollister SWAN Leadership Award is presented to a student who has demonstrated leadership skills during the SWAN program and continues to be a role model to their peers. Winner: Annemarie Larocque McKin Health NSWOC Trailblazer Award This $2,500 award, sponsored by McKin Health, is presented annually to a WOC-EP Student who has demonstrated leadership and innovation in wound, ostomy, and continence care and who meets the written criteria for the award. Winner: Shelly Barnes Mölnlycke Health Care Highest Achievement Award for the NSWOC/WOC-EP Program This $1,000 award recognizes the WOC-EP student with the highest academic achievement overall. Winner: Nathalie Dorval Mölnlycke Health Care Highest Achievement Award for the SWAN Program This $500 award recognizes the SWAN student highest academic achievement in the program. Winner: Susan Horrex Mölnlycke Health Care Indigenous Award The Mölnlycke Health Care Indigenous Award is designed to recognize the Academic achievement of a student who has identified as being Indigenous and who has demonstrated academic achievement in either the NSWOC WOC-EP Program or the Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN) Program. The successful applicant will also demonstrate how they will use what they have learned from their education program to benefit their community. Winner: Christina Przenioslo Ostomy Canada Society’s Wound, Ostomy and Continence Education Program (WOC-EP) Award The Ostomy Canada Society Wound Ostomy and Continence Education Program (WOC-EP) Award shall be awarded to two (2) individuals annually in the amount of $1500.00 each to encourage Registered Nurses to pursue a career as an NSWOC with a focus on ostomy care. Winners: Sonia Zagrer Martha Brown Smith and Nephew Clinical Achievement Award in Wound Care The Smith+Nephew Clinical Achievement Award in Wound Care by WOC-EP Students provides two $1,000 annual awards (to one French student and one English student) to students who display excellence in clinical practice. Winners: Johanne Pelletier Terrelle Klose Vancouver United Ostomy Association Award The Vancouver United Ostomy Association Chapter NSWOC Award is a $1,000 award to recognize BC NSWOC students, or recent graduates, who have demonstrated a high degree of volunteerism with, and in support of, people in the province of BC living with an ostomy. Winner: Norena Gonzales WOC Institute ISWA Award This award recognizes the Industry Skin Wellness Associate (ISWA) student with the highest academic achievement in the program. Winner: Carmen Leclerc

April 17 - 21, 2023 is NSWOC Week. As a part of this year's theme, #IndispensableNSWOCs, we planned a week full of virtual events for you to attend! On Monday, April 17, Tuesday, April 18, Wednesday, April 19, and Thursday, April 20, NSWOCC hosted a series of virtual educational and celebratory webinars featuring special legacy guests and NSWOC experts in what we are titling “WOC Stars Legacy Series”. Join us by watching the webinars below! Monday, April 17, 2023, 7-8PM ET (4-5PM PT): Leaving a Legacy in Wound Care Cathy Harley, NSWOCC CEO, interviews Diane L. Krasner PhD RN FAAN FAAWC MAPWCA on leaving a legacy in wound care. Diane Krasner is a Wound & Skin Care Consultant and Senior Advisor & Executive Team Member, Coalition for At-Risk Skin (CARS), Interim Past President & Executive Committee Member, Post-Acute Wound & Skin Integrity Council (PAWSIC). She co-authored multiple textbooks on chronic wound care. Diane is from York, Pennsylvania, USA. Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 12-1PM ET (9-10AM PT): Leaving a Legacy in Canadian Wound, Ostomy and Continence Education Kimberly LeBlanc, PhD, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), FCAN Academic Chair of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute interviews Nicole Denis, RN, MN, NSWOC, WOC Institute Preceptor Manager, who, in 1996, was the founding director of the CAET Wound, Ostomy and Continence Bilingual Education Program leaving a legacy in wound, ostomy and continence education. Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 7-8PM ET (4-5PM PT): Leaving a Legacy in Paediatric Wound, Ostomy and Continence Care - A Mother and Daughter Journey Cathy Harley, NSWOCC CEO interviews two generations of NSWOCs focused on paediatric practice at the IWK Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This unique story of a mother passing the baton to her daughter when she retired will be sure to warm your heart. An interview with: Gail Creelman, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) Emily Woodgate, RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) Wednesday, April 19, 2023, 7-8PM ET (4-5PM PT): Wound Cleansing Debunked This webinar focuses on wound cleansing techniques and solutions commonly used in the care and management of chronic wounds. Presented by: Erin Rajhathy, RN, BScN, MClSc-WH, NSWOC, WOCC(C) Objectives: 1. Summarize the evidence for wound cleansing. 2. Distinguish between common methods of wound cleansing. 3. Discuss appropriate uses of various different wound cleansing solutions. 4. Outline proper wound cleansing techniques to prevent biofilm. Thursday, April 20, 2023, 7-8PM ET (4-5PM PT): Leaving a Legacy in Wound, Ostomy and Continence from Developing a Historical Ostomy Exhibit to Lessons Learned in a Career Well Served Cathy Harley, NSWOCC CEO interviews one of the first three “ET”s in Canada – Dianne Garde and Kathryn Kozell, former CAET President 2004 -2008, who designed and launched a historical ostomy exhibit. Shirley McSavaney, former CAET President from 1998-2001 will join them to discuss lessons learned from a career in wound, ostomy and continence nursing. An interview with: Shirley McSavaney, RN, DipPHN, NSWOC Kathryn Kozell, RN, BA, MScN, NSWOC Dianne Garde, ET To learn more and download the 2023 NSWOC Week flyer, visit the link below.

Sponsored by Convatec Sexual Well-being, Stoma and ‘Silence’ Understanding Why the ‘Silence’ Exists and Exploring How We Change Practice to Improve the Quality of Life of Those Living with a Stoma During this interactive session, we share the evidence supporting the case for ‘breaking the silence’ and build the confidence and skills to make sexual well-being an everyday part of the holistic person-centered care you provide. We discuss how to plan, initiate, and hold the conversation at different stages across the patient pathway and signpost resources to empower sexual well-being independence for those whom you provide specialist ostomy care. Join us! Thursday, May 4th 11:30am-12:30 pm ET Plenary Come meet the speakers! Dr. Simona Fourie and Lorraine Grover Friday, May 5th 10:30am-11:30am ET Convatec Booth #209 Dr. Simona Fourie With an extensive nursing background, DR. SIMONA FOURIE, is a researcher working at University of Oxford and King’s College London, a member of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization and an executive committee member of The Pelvic Floor Society UK. Lorraine Grover A Psychosexual Nurse Specialist for over 25 years. LORRAINE GROVER is Treasurer and a Trustee of the Sexual Advice Association, a Specialist Advisor to Macmillan Cancer Support, Prostate Cancer UK and Cancer Research UK, a member of the British, European and International Societies for Sexual Medicine and the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists. Did you know that 78% of patients never discuss post-op sex with their surgical team1 but it doesn’t mean they don’t want to. HAVE YOUR SAY! Help us break the silence about sexual well-being. Take part in this international ostomy healthcare professional survey to help us understand the barriers in discussing sexual well-being with people living with an ostomy. Thank you – your perspectives and experiences will help improve practice. Reference: 1. Nicola B. Dames, Sarah E. Squire, Anthony B. Devlin, Rebecca Fish, Carly Nichola Bisset, Phil Tozer, the Respondents to the Sex After Colorectal Surgery Survey. ‘Let’s talk about sex’: a patient-led survey on sexual function after colorectal and pelvic floor surgery’. Journal of Colorectal Disease, Volume 23, Issue 6 June 2021 Pages 1524-1551. © 2023 Convatec Inc. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. AP-61673-CAN-ENG-V1

By Kimberly Grimaldi, RN, BS, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) All around us the importance of self-care and mental health are spoken about, but as we all know, nurses are much better at giving advice than following it. This little spot in the newsletter is to try and look at the different forms of self-care NSWOCC members engage in to make sure we can keep caring for others. Remember, sometimes taking care of yourself is doing nothing at all, and that is okay too. In this issue I am going to speak about knitting. A quick search of the terms knitting and anxiety brings up many articles discussing the role of knitting in decreasing anxiety, stress and pain. It is used as part of therapy, to help with coping and grief. A favourite memory of mine is getting together with a small group from my job at the time to work on our knitting (or other crafty projects). The beginning of our sessions were generally used to vent about work, before we just naturally drifted to other more pleasant topics, and if for some reason you were not feeling particularly chatty it was okay to just sit and work on your project, sip your tea, and listen to everyone else around you talking. In this way we could discuss what was bothering us with other nurses who understood where we were coming from, have some company, and when we finished a project we had something we could physically take away from the experience. Also, since it was always on a particular day at a particular time, we purposefully set aside time for ourselves and checked on each other if someone missed a lot of sessions to make sure they were okay. I was living alone and far from family at the time, and these sessions helped me so much with the feeling of isolation and burnout I was experiencing. That is the beauty of something like knitting, you can do it by yourself at home, carry it around with you to have something to do if you commute via public transport, or join a group if you are seeking a group activity, and meet with people in person or online to talk about something you have in common. Knitting is a hobby that can take as much time and financial investments as you are willing to provide. Yarn and knitting needles can be picked up everywhere from the local dollar or thrift stores to specialty yarn and craft stores, online or in person, or you can makeshift with things around the house, such as two similarly sized pencils and some string, if you really do not want to invest anything more than time at the moment. I suggest if you are just starting to get a thicker yarn and try to avoid black or white yarn as it is harder to see the stitches with those colours or smaller sizes of yarn. Using a larger yarn, also allows for the use of larger knitting needles, which will also make it easier to see what you are doing when you first start out. From there, a plethora of YouTube videos or online (paid) courses are available for those who prefer to teach themselves, or most independent yarn stores and some libraries have nights where people get together to knit and are more than happy to assist a new knitter with learning the difference between knit and purl stitches. Some yarn stores will also offer classes to teach you how to knit either privately or in a small group setting. Don’t worry about your first pieces being perfect, it takes a while to figure out tension and not picking up or dropping random stitches, and you will frog many projects when you first start (so go for the cheaper yarns at first, because you will end up throwing some out when getting ripped out multiple times causes it to fray). Once you learn how to cast on and off, you can stop at learning how to just do the knit and purl stitches and make many things out of just those two stitches (scarves for everyone) or you can keep exploring different patterns of different difficulties, as everything else is pretty much based on those four skills. Well, that’s my little blurb about knitting, I am hoping that some of you will feel comfortable to send in some information about what you do to help decrease your stress and provide some self-care, and send us pictures, or recommend something for the membership group to try out. I’d love to see other people’s knitting and craft projects, especially if you have a furry helper. For those of you who are looking for ways to reduce stress and increase wellness, the NSWOCC website has a page dedicated to wellness resources, it can be found at https://www.nswoc.ca/wellness.

We are happy to announce that Emily Woodgate, RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) of Halifax, Nova Scotia has been appointed by the NSWOCC Board of Directors as the new leader of the Paediatric the Paediatric Community of Practice. Emily is a Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) certified NSWOC who works at the IWK Health which is a Paediatric referral center for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. As a Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence, she works with patients in the three specialties from premature babies, children and youth. Emily is taking over from Stephanie Furtado, RN, BScN, MClinSc-WH, NSWOC, WOCC(C) who launched this community of practice and served as the leader for the past two years. We thank Stephanie for all her efforts. The Paediatric Community of Practice guides the key activities related to paediatric wound, ostomy and continence management within NSWOCC and beyond. The Paediatric Community of Practice may also be called upon to provide feedback to the NSWOCC Board of Directors on matters of Paediatric wound, ostomy and continence care. The Paediatric Community of Practice: creates a national network of NSWOCs who are working in or who have an interest in Paediatric wound, ostomy and/or continence management. provides council and perform due diligence on Paediatric related wound, ostomy, and continence initiatives within NSWOCC. develops on-going paediatric wound, ostomy and continence strategic activities that align with the NSWOCC strategic mission. identifies areas for improvement in specialized wound, ostomy and continence paediatric care. We look forward to having Emily in a leadership position and the continuation and success of the Paediatric Community of practice. Please join us in welcoming her. Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada is a registered charity dedicated to advancing the tri-specialty of specialized wound, ostomy and continence nursing. NSWOCC believes that every person deserves specialized wound, ostomy and continence care. If you are interested in being a part of the Paediatric Community of Practice, please e-mail office@nswoc.ca.

Le 17-21 avril 2023 est la semaine des ISPSCs! Cette année, la campagne promotionnelle mettra en évidence les nombreuses façons dont les ISPSCs sont indispensables, le tout appuyé par des arguments concrets. Le dépliant figurant au bas de ce courriel n'est que la partie visible de l'iceberg - restez à l'affut pour découvrir l’ensemble du matériel promotionnel qui sera dévoilé pendant la semaine des ISPSCs ! En attendant, veuillez consulter ci-dessous, les principaux éléments de la campagne: En tant que "force de combat" pour les patients présentant des problèmes de plaies, stomies et de continence, les ISPSCs prouvent qu'elles sont indispensables pour les raisons suivantes : Les ISPSCs plaident en faveur de meilleurs soins aux patients (Baker 2001). Les ISPSCs réduisent le nombre de visites aux urgences et les réadmissions à l'hôpital (Baich et al., 2010). Les ISPSCs réduisent les coûts (Heerschap & Duff, 2021). Les ISPSCs aident à prévenir les infections urinaires liées aux cathéters et les dermatites liées à l'incontinence (Medley, 2014). Les ISPSCs soutiennent la prévention des lésions de pression (Boyle, Bergquist-Beringer, & Cramer, 2017). Les ISPSCs préviennent les complications liées aux stomies, réduisant ainsi les taux de réadmission à l'hôpital (Medley, 2014). De nombreux éléments sont tirés de la campagne "L’expertise à la puissance 3", qui dispose également de son propre dossier de présentation, d'outils pour les médias sociaux, d'un livre blanc, et bien d'autres choses encore ! Pour consulter la campagne L’expertise à la puissance 3, veuillez cliquer sur le bouton ci-dessous. Soumettez votre histoire : Pourquoi pensez-vous que les ISPSCs sont indispensables ? L’association des ISPSCC souhaite que vous lui fassiez part des raisons pour lesquelles vous pensez que les ISPSCs sont indispensables dans votre ville, votre région, votre établissement ou même dans tout le pays ! Envoyez votre histoire par courriel à office@nswoc.ca sous la forme d'un blog/article écrit, d'un court message, d'une vidéo ou de tout autre format créatif ! Nous ne manquerons pas de la présenter sur les médias sociaux et sur notre site web pendant la semaine des ISPSCs. Participez à la campagne promotionnelle: soumettez votre photo Participez à la campagne promotionnelle de la semaine des ISPSCs en partageant une photo de vous et de vos collègues avec des articles à l’effigie des ISPSCs – un sarrau, des T-shirts "We Will WOC You", une tasse ISPSC, ou toute autre article en votre possession ! Réservez les dates : une semaine complète d'événements virtuels ! Gardez vos calendriers ouverts ! Le lundi 17 avril, le mardi 18 avril, le mercredi 19 avril et le jeudi 20 avril, l’association des ISPSCC organisera une série de webinaires éducatifs et festifs avec des invités spéciaux et des experts œuvrant au sein des ISPSCC. De plus amples informations seront bientôt annoncées ! Partagez la façon dont vous célébrez la semaine des ISPSCs en utilisant #IndispensableNSWOCs Avant et pendant la semaine des ISPSCs, n'oubliez pas d'utiliser le hashtag #IndispensableNSWOCs pour que nous puissions suivre et partager sur les médias sociaux, la façon dont vous célébrez la semaine! Suivez ISPSCC sur les médias sociaux! Télécharger le dépliant

Tuesday, April 11, 2023 NSWOCC invites you to join the NSWOCC Board and Core Program Leaders at the NSWOCC Annual Membership Meeting (AMM) on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 6:30PM-8:15PM EDT. The AMM will be followed immediately by a Members Appreciation Event. All NSWOCC Members are welcome to attend if their membership status is current. NSWOCC Members are titled "Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Member" in the membership database. For the full description of voting Members, please refer to NSWOCC Operating By-law 1-3.01 Classes and Conditions of Membership. All Members (both in-person and electronically over Zoom) will have 1 vote. The following Associates are also welcome to attend as non-voting participants: Allied Healthcare Professional Associate Full-time Student Nurse Associate Government/Administrative Professionals Associate Industry Associate Industry Associate Plus International Associate Practice Enrichment Series Associate Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN) Associate Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN) Student Associate WOC-EP Student Associate Please make sure that you renew your membership today by logging into your membership account at https://membersnswoc.ca/. To become an NSWOCC Member or Associate, visit https://www.nswoc.ca/become-a-member. HOW TO RSVP Make sure to RSVP to make your vote count and your voice heard, as well as to learn about key association business, and celebrate successes. This meeting will take place in-person at the Ottawa Westin, 11 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario on the fourth floor in Confederation Rooms II and III. Food will be available. For those unable to attend in-person, Members may still RSVP in advance to attend the meeting on Zoom. Associates are not able to attend online. To attend either in-person or on Zoom, please RSVP by clicking below: 2023 AMM Members Package NSWOCC Members can access the 2023 AMM Members Package by clicking the red button below, or by logging into your membership account at https://membersnswoc.ca/. The package contains the 2023 Annual Members Meeting Agenda, the NSWOCC 2022-2023 Annual Report, the draft NSWOCC 2022 AMM Meeting Minutes, and the 2023 Election Slate of Directors and Officers of the Association. 2023 Annual Report NSWOCC is built by Members and is for the Members... Thank you so much for the immeasurably valuable work you have done for Nurses Specialized in Wound, ostomy and Continence Canada over the past year! We cannot thank you enough and want to let you know that your dedication is essential to the work that we do. We cannot do it without you! We would not want to do it without you! You bring ideas, positive energy and a beautiful intensity. We hope you will come back and join us soon on an exciting initiative, and maybe even bring a colleague with you! You can now access the 2023 Annual Report by clicking the file below. Please review the package carefully prior to the May 4, 2023 AMM in order to be prepared to vote. If you should have any questions, please contact the NSWOCC Chief Executive Officer, Catherine Harley at office@nswoc.ca. We look forward to seeing you there. Sincerely, The NSWOCC Board of Directors

April 17-21, 2023 is NSWOC Week! This year, we will be promoting a campaign highlighting the many ways that NSWOCs are indispensable, including references for even more information. The flyer at the bottom of this post is just the tip of the iceberg - stay tuned for the full promotional material to come during NSWOC Week! In the meantime, please see the main campaign points below: As the “Fighting Force” for Wound, Ostomy and Continence patients, NSWOCs prove they are indispensable because: NSWOCs will advocate for better patient care (Baker 2001). NSWOCs prevent ostomy complications, reducing hospital readmission rates (Medley, 2014). NSWOCs lower emergency room visits and decrease hospital readmissions (Baich et al., 2010). When NSWOCs aren’t there, wound care costs go up (Heerschap & Duff, 2021). NSWOCs help prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), and incontinence-associated dermatitis (Medley, 2014). NSWOCs support pressure injury prevention (Boyle, Bergquist-Beringer, & Cramer, 2017). Many points are drawn from the Power of 3 campaign, which also has its own presentation file, social media assets, white paper, and more! To view the Power of 3, please click the button below. Submit your story: Why do you think NSWOCs are indispensable? NSWOCC wants you to send in a submission of why you think NSWOCs are indispensable in your town, region, facility, or even across the country! Send your story in an email to office@nswoc.ca as a written blog/article, short message, video, or any other creative format! We will make sure to feature it on social media and our website during NSWOC Week. Join the campaign: Submit your photo Be a part of our NSWOC Week campaign posts by sharing a photo of yourself and your colleagues in NSWOC gear - a lab coat, “We Will WOC You” T-Shirts, with an NSWOC mug, or any other gear you have! Save the Dates: a Full Week of Virtual Events! Keep your calendars open! On Monday, April 17, Tuesday, April 18, Wednesday, April 19, and Thursday, April 20, NSWOCC will be hosting a series of virtual educational and celebratory webinars featuring special legacy guests and NSWOC experts. More information will be announced soon! Share how you are celebrating NSWOC Week using #IndispensableNSWOCs Leading up to NSWOC Week, and during the week, make sure to use the hashtag #IndispensableNSWOCs so we can follow and re-share how you’re celebrating on social media! Follow NSWOCC on Social Media! Don’t forget to follow us too! Download the Flyer

NSWOCC's 42nd National Conference is coming up quick! From May 3-7, 2023 in Ottawa, ON, we will be gathering in-person to participate in an educational program focused on addressing health care challenges and advancing specialized care in wound, ostomy, and continence. So, why should you attend? Find out below! The ONLY Canadian conference that covers specialized wound, ostomy and continence Wound, ostomy, and continence are essential topics that apply across the continuum of healthcare, from acute care hospitals and outpatient clinics to community long term care and in independent practice. As our need for up-to-date, reliable, and progressive healthcare knowledge increases, it is vital that we come together to cover specialized wound, ostomy, and continence educational topics. As Canada's ONLY conference that does so, NSWOCC's 42nd National Conference is the perfect opportunity to advance your knowledge and use it to help make groundbreaking advances in healthcare. Don't miss out on the opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded individuals with similar goals to help you expand your network and share your expertise. If you are passionate about the future of wound, ostomy, and continence issues, this conference is not to be passed by. Our educational program is complete with expert education that you will NOT get anywhere else! Over the course of 5 days, our conference is jam-packed with a diverse array of expert speakers, sessions, workshops, and more. From sessions like "Head and Neck Wound? What's Next?" presented by Dr. Marc R. Matthews, MD, MS, MCG, FACS to "High Output Ileostomies: Preventing Acute Kidney Injury" presented by Carol Rees Parrish, MS, RDN, our conference covers a wide range of expert education that you will not want to miss. This is the perfect opportunity to discover the latest and greatest advances in wound, ostomy, and continence education. To check out some fantastic featured sessions and speakers that we have already highlighted, and the full conference program, visit the link below! Visit one of Canada's best cities in springtime Ottawa, ON is one of the best cities to visit. As Canada's capital, Ottawa is full of beautiful sites, historic buildings, and fun activities. Situated in the heart of downtown at the Westin Ottawa Hotel, our conference location makes it easy for you to get out and explore the many amazing things that this city has to offer. Parliament Hill Only a short walk away, Parliament Hill, the home to Canada's federal government, rests on the Southern Banks of the Ottawa River. A national symbol of importance, Parliament Hill contains beautiful architectural elements and is the centre of Canada's groundbreaking history. Guided tours are offered free of charge for you to explore this Canadian icon. National Museums Ottawa is also home to seven of Canada's nine national museums: The National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of History, the Canada Science and Technology Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canadian Museum of Nature, and the Canadian War Museum. No matter what you are interested in, Ottawa has the perfect museum for you to visit and enjoy. Byward Market Steps away from the conference venue, the ByWard Market is a buzzing hub of outdoor farmers’ market stalls and specialty food shops selling Canadian cheese and maple-infused chocolate. It’s also known for its colourful street art and hip stores filled with crafts and clothes by local designers. Surrounding eateries serve shawarma and BeaverTails. Nightlife encompasses rustic taverns and stylish bars. And these are only a few of the many fantastic things that Ottawa has to offer! We can guarantee that between our excellent conference program and the vast opportunities for amazing experiences in Ottawa, you will never want to go home. So, what are you waiting for? Our upcoming 42nd National Conference is the perfect chance for you to attend Canada's only conference on wound ostomy, and continence topics, receive expert education that you will not want to miss, and visit one of Canada's best cities in Springtime. Don't hesitate! Register now.

PRESS RELEASE Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy & Continence Canada 66 Leopolds Drive Ottawa, Ontario P: 613-762-5788 E: office@nswoc.ca FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 17, 2023 Ottawa, Ontario – February 17, 2023 – We are pleased to announce that Zachary Abraham will be filling the position of the NSWOCC Office Administrator effective immediately. In this role, Zachary will be reporting to Mr. Troy Curtis, Director of Operations for NSWOCC. Zach is a 4th year student in Honours Health Studies at the University of Waterloo. While completing his undergraduate degree he has developed a strong interest in population health research and aims to pursue further studies after receiving a bachelor’s degree. Through his studies and working alongside professors, Zach has found an interest in the field and developed specific interest in gerontology, psychiatric epidemiology, and health service utilization. He is currently conducting research involving marginalization and its relationship with psychiatric readmission. Zach’s recent work experience include being a research assistant as well as working in athletics and conditioning all at the University of Waterloo. These experiences have helped him to develop an array of skills which allow him to take on new challenges and work in a variety of different settings. We look forward to having Zachary as a part of the NSWOCC team where he will apply his knowledge and skill set to advancing NSWOCC and the specialized nurses that we serve. About NSWOCC and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) is a registered charity and membership-based association for over 500 nurses specialized in the care of patients with challenges in wound, ostomy and continence and over 800 members overall. For more information, please visit www.nswoc.ca and www.wocinstitute.ca

This month’s featured NSWOCC Member is Erin Ballard, RN BScN NSWOC WOCC(C) (she/her). Erin is a Clinical Practice Education in Wound, Ostomy and Continence for Long-Term Care. This month features Erin’s work in the LTC NSWOC Virtual Visit Program. Check out her interview below! What is the LTC NSWOC Virtual Visit program? The NSWOC virtual visit program provides NSWOC consults for residents living in long-term care in Island Health. The NSWOC consults with residents and staff via a secure connection using BC Virtual Visit platform and an iPad. The NSWOC is able to assess, diagnose and provide treatment recommendations through working with the nurse at the facility and guiding assessments. Virtual appointments are scheduled in advance and follow up appointments can be scheduled as needed. Why do we need one? NSWOC availability via virtual means allows the resident to access an NSWOC for care while staying comfortably in their home. There is no need to travel for appointments; a big plus for those in rural and remote areas who would normally have to travel lengthy distances to see a specialist. The NSWOC virtual care program also provides support for clinical staff in LTC who need support in managing complex WOC issues. Who is involved? Residents in owned and operated and affiliate facilities have access to the virtual NSWOC; 63 facilities in total. Where do the visits happen? Visits occur on the LTC site wherever the resident is most comfortable and has privacy for the visit. The iPad can be moved around as needed to allow for resident and staff needs. Recognizing NSWOCs and SWANs Want to share an interesting story, project or initiative, or recognize an NSWOC or SWAN colleague? Submit the form below and we can include it in a featured section on the NSWOCC website and/or in an upcoming newsletter!

NSWOCC is happy to share the following news on behalf of Valérie Chaplain, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), NSWOCC Core Program leader of the French Community of Practice: It is with great pride that I am pleased to announce the release of a major manual on wound care on February 15, 2023. Titled Pratiques exemplaires en soins des plaies : de novice à expert, this book is the result of exceptional inter-professional collaboration. Divided into 2 volumes, 45 chapters and with more than 1750 pages, this manual aims to equip both health professionals who are new to the field and those who have several years of experience. I would particularly like to acknowledge the participation of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence in Quebec. Thank you to everyone for their important contributions to several of the 45 chapters of the manual, including Louise, Luce, Deborah, Sylvianne, Jenny, Julie, Liette, Chantal, and Véronique. I would also like to acknowledge the contributions made by some of our colleagues from Switzerland and Belgium. This book fills a major gap in French-language documentary resources for all health professionals working with Canada's Francophone population. I sincerely hope that it will make it possible to establish a common language between us and to weave a solid Francophone community of practice to not only collectively increase knowledge and skills but above all to optimize the safe management of the Franco-Canadian population struggling with wounds. Thank you to NSWOCC/ISPSCC for endorsing the work done by this extraordinary team and the years of work this book represents. Thank you also to the Presses de l'université Laval for the outstanding support offered to carry out this major project. To receive a discount on the purchase of the 2 volumes, you may go directly through the Presses de l'université Laval at: https://www.pulaval.com/ by using the promo code SOINS2023. - Valérie Chaplain, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), NSWOCC Core Program leader of the French Community of Practice, co-director of Pratiques exemplaires en soins des plaies : de novice à expert.