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A System Under Strain Every year, Canada’s provincial and territorial governments spend more than $250 billion in total on health care (Canadian Institute for Health Information [CIHI], 2018). In the next decade as the country’s population ages, that spending is only going to increase. Longer life expectancies and declining fertility rates are contributing to an overall older demographic (World Health Organization, 2015). Economic models predict that healthcare costs will rise by 1% each year between 2010 and 2036 due to population aging alone (Mackenzie & Rachlis, 2010). So, how can we achieve a sustainable healthcare system? Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence can Help Registered Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOCs) can help alleviate the financial strain facing administrators and policymakers through the provision of higher quality care, reduced costs and improved outcomes for patients. In our previous article, we focused on how the high-quality care provided by NSWOCs improves outcomes for patients, care providers, and the healthcare industry as a whole. Today, we will be exploring how NSWOCs can help reduce healthcare costs across the country. NSWOCs Lower Healthcare Costs Controlling costs is critical across every facet of the healthcare system. The growing prevalence of wounds and high expenditure for wound management across all healthcare settings have made wound care a particular budgetary focus in Canada and around the world. NSWOCs are trained to assess and treat many types of complex wounds with evidence-based strategies that can help prevent complications. NSWOCs Lower Healthcare Costs By: For a More Sustainable System Ultimately, with a tri-specialization in wound, ostomy and continence, NSWOCs are helping address the challenges facing Canada’s healthcare system. Employing NSWOCs is an effective strategy for controlling costs through high-quality, evidence-based care that leads to better outcomes for patients. NSWOCs bring about these benefits as care providers but also as sources of specialized knowledge for interdisciplinary healthcare teams, care consultants to other health professionals, as well as through best practice and protocol development, research and other avenues. To learn more about the power of NSWOCs, visit the link below and stay tuned for our next article exploring how NSWOCs lead to better health outcomes for patients across Canada!

NSWOCC Membership Core Program Leader, Shelly Barnes, RN, BN, NSWOC, WOCC (C), interview with WOC Institute Academic Chair, Kimberly LeBlanc, PhD, RN, NSWOC, WOCC (C), FCAN In June 2023, NSWOCC's Membership Core Program leader, Shelly Barnes, RN, BN, NSWOC, WOCC (C), interviewed our WOC Institute Academic Chair, Kimberly LeBlanc, PhD, RN, NSWOC, WOCC (C), FCAN on everything you need to know about the WOC Institute's Preceptorship Program. The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute NSWOC Program (Wound, Ostomy and Continence Education Program) includes 225 hours of clinical preceptorship. Students consider this the highlight of the program and a highly valuable learning experience. This preceptorship experience ensures that program graduates can apply their theoretical knowledge in divers clinical setting. The preceptorship experience ensures that program graduates have the knowledge, skill and judgment to care for patients or clients in the many diverse settings encountered by a Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence. Watch this brief interview to get answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about the preceptorship program, including how to become a preceptor and some important words of wisdom. Listen to the Interview Read the Transcript Shelly Barnes 0:00 Hi welcome everyone. My name is Shelley Barnes and I'm a nurse specialize in wound ostomy and continence working in Victoria BC. And today, we're lucky to have Dr. Kim LeBlanc, who is the academic chair for the wound ostomy and continence Institute joining us to talk about preceptorship. So Kim, the Institute offers many different programs do they all have a preceptorship component? Dr. Kim LeBlanc 0:30 Thanks, Shelly. That's actually a really great question. They don't all have a formal preceptorship, so we start with our flagship courses, which is the Nurses Specialized in Wound Ostomy and Continence course, and our Skin Wellness Associate Nurse course, they both have formal preceptorship components. For the NSWOC course (or the Nurses Specialized Wound Ostomy and Continence course) they actually have a formal extensive preceptorship for each course for wound, ostomy, and continence of 75 to 90 hours of hands-on time, per course. So, it's a very intensive experience where they are one on one with a preceptor and for the Skin Wellness Associate Nurse Course (or SWAN program) we have what they call a self-directed preceptorship. What that means is that students actually seek out certain types of patients and cases within their own work environment and they work through that case under the mentorship of a CNA certified NSWOC. So, it's a little bit of a different perspective and the reason as to why right now we actually haven't expanded our preceptorship programs, is because of the availability of preceptors. That's one of the problems that we're having. Shelly Barnes 1:53 So, what about the debridement program, Is there a preceptorship associated with that one? Dr. Kim LeBlanc 2:01 So that's another great question. Because we get asked that a lot, why don't we have hands on component to the debridement course. There's two problems actually, availability of preceptorships, and liability insurance. So we have to look at things from a two prong perspective, when we're placing students we actually have multiple layers that we have to go through to place a student, from registering them with HSPnet, to getting liability insurance, to getting affiliation agreements with the facilities where they're going to actually be doing their preceptorship and mentorship component. So there's a lot of behind the scenes activities that go on, and then from the reverse of that, as well, is that where we have students from across the country, taking the debridement course, finding qualified sites is also an issue. So what we've done is that we've provided students with this strong foundation, a theoretical foundation, so that from a liability standpoint, they can prove that they have the theoretical knowledge. So, we're looking at knowledge, skills and practice in terms of being able to perform a nursing skill they can show that they have the knowledge and then we encourage them within their own workplaces to find that mentor, that they're able to get that mentorship component in. Preceptorship is very complex, and many students don't understand why we can't just arrange placements for people and from a legal standpoint, there's a lot of layers we have to go to in order to be able to place students. Shelly Barnes 3:49 Thanks, Kim. That leads me to another question. Do learners find their own preceptor? Is it up to the learner to to get that that sorted out? Dr. Kim LeBlanc 4:03 So, that's a question we get asked a lot and it's actually a collaborative process and one of the issues is how preceptors can be approached actually differs from province to province. different provinces have different rules and there's normally a standard intake such as HSPnet, where we have to put students through a process clearance process. So, in some provinces the students are able to contact their preceptors, and find out their availability, and then they come to us, and they would say, "I would like to do my preceptorship with Kim LeBlanc in her clinic in Ottawa", not a problem and we can do that. Versus if I wanted to place someone with an NSWOC In Alberta, the student is not allowed to actually approach the preceptor, they have to come to us and say, "I would like to do my preceptorship with Nancy nurse at the foothills hospital", and then we have to then turn around and go and contact that nurse at the foothills hospital and say, Are you available on these dates? are you willing on these dates? then we have to go back to the provincial body, and say, We would like to put this student through at this date. And here's all of our agreements and our insurance papers. So, it really differs from province to province, which is why each student is assigned a preceptor coordinator that they work from the time they enter into the program, they'll work collaboratively with them, to find that right fit between their preceptor and themselves, and to let them know what the rules are in their province. And in some cases, it's actually not just in the province, it's in their city, it's in their hospital. So, we know the rules. So, this is why we have to collaborate and sometimes students will come to me and say, "well, you know, I'm friends with Nancy, and she took me in, and you know, I did my whole preceptorship with her", and they'll get really upset when I say, "Well, I'm sorry, it can't count, because we didn't have clearance for you to go in, we didn't have an affiliation agreement, and we didn't have insurance, so I cannot count your preceptorship". And they'll get very upset with me. But, this is why we have these rules in place to have that collaborative approach. And to make sure the students are protected, the preceptors are protected, and all the rules are being followed. Shelly Barnes 6:23 That's very helpful to know, Kim. Thank you. So, there are rules about preceptorship. I'm wondering about actually becoming a preceptor. I know you've precepted in the past, who can be a preceptor and is there a process to apply. Dr. Kim LeBlanc 6:40 So, we welcome preceptors, were begging for preceptors. So, in order to be a preceptor, you have to have two years of experience in your field. You do not have to be an NSWOC to be a preceptor, we encourage students to be with NSWOCs. But we also encourage students to spend some of their preceptor time with other healthcare professionals as well. So for instance, if you're doing your continence preceptorship, -...- that's a great experience or with a urologist or with a nurse continence advisor. So, there's different ways that we could bring someone forward. Or for instance, if you're doing your wound preceptorship. And you have the opportunity to spend time in Dr. Gary Sibbald clinic per se, you know, that's a great experience. So there's many different people who can be preceptors. So, you just have to have two years of experience in the field and there is an application online. So, you can go to the www.NSWOC.ca website, which will bring you to the link to the WOC Institute, or you can go to www.WOCinstitute.ca to potential preceptors. And there's a form that gets filled out online that goes to Nicole Denis, who is our preceptor coordinator and certainly if you have any questions, you can either email Nicole Denis, which is ndenis@wocinstitute.ca, or myself, chair@wocinstitute.ca. And we'd be more than happy to answer any questions that a potential preceptor might have, it's such a rewarding and rich experience to be a preceptor, the form is very quick to to fill out and as soon as we know that you're willing and able, we add you to our list, and then you can be paired up with students. Shelly Barnes 8:33 Sounds great. Thank you. I know you're busy. One final little question, from your experience do you have any tips about what kind of preceptorship to search out? Or should one stay within the program and the area they work in? Or is there value to branching out? What what do you think? Dr. Kim LeBlanc 8:57 Such a great question. A lot of that comes down to what kind of experiences you're looking for, and sometimes it's practical reason, sometimes especially now, post pandemic, a lot of nurses can't get a lot of extra time off. So it may be easiest for them to do their preceptorship in their own work environment, which there's nothing wrong with. I'm a believer, though that we should try to push ourselves constantly and we should look for those added experiences. So, I won't say how many years ago, but when I did my preceptorships I really branched out, I did some at a children's hospital, I did any clinic I could get into, I tried to have as many different experiences as I could. So that when I went back to my place of work, I came with a new perspective and a broader view of things. And, you know, every healthcare professional you work with is going to approach things in different ways. So, it's really great to have all that different experience that you can then carry forward with you. And, you know, some people have the opportunity, they can actually do their preceptorships in different provinces and that's another unique perspective, because then you get to see how things are done in different provinces. But, I will caution that if you do that, you have to remember that you have to follow by the local policies and procedures in your own province. So, we've had cases where nurses have come from BC to Ontario, the scope of practice for nurses in Ontario is much broader and we can do a lot more especially around debridement, than you can in BC. So in BC, there's a course you have to take, there's different policies in place, and things are very strict and in Ontario, we're given a lot more flexibility. So I think it's so important that you do know your local policies, procedures, and regulatory body. But, the more experiences you can get, the better. You also have to be realistic and, you know, we have some poor nurses who have been struggling to get those preceptorship hours in, not because they don't want to, but because they just can't get the time off work to do it and that's the reality we're working with right now. But, I would like to finish by saying that being a preceptor is such a rich and rewarding experience. I love working with the students when they come into my clinic or they come follow me in my wound care rounds. It's actually a thrill and it pushes me to make sure that I'm up to date. Shelly Barnes 11:42 I enjoy having students around as well. They really do bring us back to why we do what we do in our best practice. One more time, where can we find out more about preceptorship if we're looking at our program? Dr. Kim LeBlanc 12:00 So, if you want to look at our preceptorship programs, you can reach us through several different avenues. The easiest is WOCinstitute.ca and go to potential preceptors. You can also link to the site from the NSWOC.ca website. You can also email me directly chair@wocinstitute.ca or Nicole Denis, so ndenis@wocinstitute.ca. We welcome any questions you may have and Shelly, thank you so much for having me on today. Shelly Barnes 12:34 Thanks for your time, Kim. We really appreciate it. Learn more about the WOC Institute Preceptorship Program

Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (NSWOCC) sends sincere condolences to the family of a nurse leader and researcher Dr. Barbara Braden, PhD, FAAN. The NSWOCC and nurses across Canada are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Dr. Barbara Braden, a remarkable nurse leader, researcher, and advocate for improved patient care. Dr. Braden's contributions to chronic wound management, particularly the development of theBraden Scale for Predicting Pressure Injury Risk, have had a profound impact on nursing practice worldwide. Her dedication and collaborative nature allowed her to work closely with front line nurses, providing mentorship and support as they implemented the Braden Scale. Her ability to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice was truly extraordinary. Beyond her significant achievements in the field, Dr. Braden was a fierce advocate for advanced nursing and continuously strived for improved patient care. Her passion for learning and curiosity was evident in her impactful statement, encouraging nurses to question everything and pursue further investigation with researchers. She has undoubtedly inspired countless nurses and healthcare professionals to never stop learning and continually seek knowledge. The NSWOCC, has witnessed firsthand the positive impact of Dr. Braden's work, as thousands of Canadian nurses and healthcare professionals have integrated the Braden Scale into their clinical practice. Her efforts have undoubtedly improved patient outcomes, enhanced nursing knowledge, and advanced research in the field. During this difficult time, we extend our thoughts and prayers to the Braden family. Dr. Barbara Braden's legacy will forever live on in the hearts of those who have benefited from her expertise and compassionate care. With deepest sympathies, The NSWOCC Board of Directors

We are very excited to announce that Nurses Specialized in Wound Ostomy and Continence Canada has partnered with Perkopolis to provide you with over 5000 exclusive perks! Perkopolis is Canada’s largest employee perk program with offers available across Canada and globally. Register using the attached instructions: https://www.perkopolis.com/PartnerLaunch/83536210.pdf?utm_source=mkg_materials to access perks on shopping, travel, and attractions. You can save on top brands including Apple, Lenovo, Adidas, Westjet, IHG Hotels and Resorts, and more.

Nous sommes très heureux d'annoncer que les Infirmières spécialisées en plaies, stomies et continence du Canada (ISPSCC) se sont associées à Perkopolis pour vous offrir plus de 5 000 avantages exclusifs ! Perkopolis est le plus important programme d'avantages pour les employés et les membres au Canada, avec des offres disponibles partout au Canada et dans le monde. Inscrivez-vous en suivant les instructions ci-jointes: https://www.perkopolis.com/PartnerLaunch/83536210FR.pdf?utm_source=mkg_materials pour avoir accès à des avantages sur le magasinage, les voyages et les attractions. Vous pouvez économiser sur de grandes marques comme Apple, Lenovo, Adidas, Westjet, IHG Hotels and Resorts, et plus encore.

A System Under Strain Every year, Canada’s provincial and territorial governments spend more than $250 billion in total on health care (Canadian Institute for Health Information [CIHI], 2018). In the next decade as the country’s population ages, that spending is only going to increase. Longer life expectancies and declining fertility rates are contributing to an overall older demographic (World Health Organization, 2015). Economic models predict that healthcare costs will rise by 1% each year between 2010 and 2036 due to population aging alone (Mackenzie & Rachlis, 2010). So, how can we achieve a sustainable healthcare system? Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (NSWOCs) can Help! Registered Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOCs) can help alleviate the financial strain facing administrators and policymakers through the provision of higher quality care, reduced costs, and improved outcomes for patients. In this article, we will be focusing on how the high-quality care provided by NSWOCs improves outcomes for patients, care providers, and the healthcare industry as a whole. NSWOCs Provide High Quality Care High-quality care improves outcomes for patients and care providers. This includes shorter stays and reduced care costs through lower rates of hospital-acquired conditions such as pressure injuries (Boyle, Bergquist-Beringer, & Cramer, 2017). Rates of hospital-acquired conditions are an important indicator of overall performance, which makes minimizing these a key priority for healthcare administrators. NSWOCs improve quality of care by: For a More Sustainable System Ultimately, with a tri-specialization in wound, ostomy and continence, NSWOCs are helping address the challenges facing Canada’s healthcare system. Employing NSWOCs is an effective strategy for controlling costs through high-quality, evidence-based care that leads to better outcomes for patients. NSWOCs bring about these benefits as care providers but also as sources of specialized knowledge for interdisciplinary healthcare teams, care consultants to other health professionals, as well as through best practice and protocol development, research and other avenues. To learn more about the power of NSWOCs, visit the link below and stay tuned for our next article exploring how NSWOCs lower healthcare costs across Canada!

We are pleased to share that three new board members will be joining our existing board of directors for the 2023-2025 term! Congratulations to those who have been elected. As well, we would like to thank our outgoing board members, Kelly Mazerolle (Treasurer), RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), and Jodi Quinlan (Regional Director Prairies, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) for their dedication to the Association. Learn more about our new board members below! Treasurer: Misty Stephens, RN, MClSc(WH), BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) Misty Stephens started her career as an ICU trauma nurse and then transitioned into being an NSWOC in 2013. Since then she has been working in acute care as the certified NSWOC. She is the chair of BC provincial skin and wound committee and value analysis teams. Misty is the regional NSWOC BC / Yukon director. She is an instructor for the University of Victoria and has co-written the Wound Management for healthcare professional levels 1 & 2. She also works at a private ostomy clinic. Misty has 3 kids and a wonderful husband and in her spare time she likes to travel to their cabin in the Interior of BC for back country adventures and exploring. Regional Director: Prairies, NWT and Nunavut: Bev Smith, RN, BScN, NSWOC Bev Smith graduated from the University of Alberta with a BScN. After graduating, she worked at a hospital in Edmonton where a casual position came up to work with the NSWOC. She thought it sounded interesting and after working her first shift, and knew it was the path she was meant to take. So, she applied to the then CAET program and graduated in 2008. Bev accepted a full-time position as the only NSWOC in Supportive Living-Edmonton Zone in 2007, while she was still completing the program. It was challenging to be working alone, as a new NSWOC in a fast-growing continuing care program, but she absolutely loved the work and that is why she is still in the same position 16 years later. Bev works front line and is on provincial and zone committees related to WOC. She is the lead for NSWOCCs Lower Limb Assessment Team, and she presents staff education related to WOC. In 2018, Bev became the Core Program Leader for NSWOCC Indigenous WOC Core Program and is so proud of the amazing work this group has accomplished in the past four years. She also volunteers for her local nurses’ union as the office rep for the past six years. Bev has over 140 members that she stays connected with and assist with union related concerns. Bev believes she can contribute to the association by bringing the knowledge she has gained by attending NSWOCC board meetings. She has excellent communication skills and the ability to organize and chair meetings, prepare agendas, and complete minutes. Bev is an enthusiastic and proud NSWOC and will work hard to represent the Prairies, NWT, and Nunavut as the Reginal Director. Regional Director: BC & Yukon: Rochelle De Clerk, BScN, NSWOC Rochelle De Clerk's love for wound care began in nursing school at Trent University in Ontario. It was during her 2nd year practicum that she realized wound care really interested her. Rochelle moved to BC during her 4th year of nursing and began her career as a Registered Nurse in Richmond Hospital in 2009. She has worked in a few different fields of nursing including Cardiac, Medical, and Surgical. Her passion for wound care really began when she became a Community Care Nurse in Salmon Arm, B.C. in 2012. Rochelle was lucky enough to have wonderful NSWOC nurses to mentor and guide her for approximately 8 years. She enrolled in the NSWOC program in 2017 and accepted a position at Vernon Jubilee Hospital as the Acute Care NSWOC in 2018, where she is still currently employed. She has been a member of the Provincial Skin and Wound Committee in B.C. for the past 3 years and truly enjoys learning from her experienced colleagues and also bringing her own knowledge to the group. As the Regional Director for B.C. and Yukon, Rochelle is able to promote change in practice using evidence-based research, monitor and improve cost for therapy and products, and improve the quality of patient care. Her involvement with the Provincial Skin and Wound Committee has allowed her to be involved in the creation of guidelines, procedures, and product information sheets, which directly help the frontline nurses, and other allied health professions, as well as NSWOC nurses. This direct involvement has also taught her how policies and procedures are created and developed, which is a valuable skill to have as a Regional Director for NSWOCC.

CBC News New Brunswick Interview with Catherine Harley, NSWOCC Chief Executive Officer On May, June 5, 2023, Catherine Harley, NSWOCC Chief Executive Officer, was interviewed on Shift - NB with Vanessa Vander Valk, a CBC News New Brunswick Program. Cathy spoke about the New Brunswick Wound, Ostomy and Continence Summit, calling on the Province to change the way it handles specialized care. On Thursday, June 1st, 2023, from 8:00am to 1:00pm ADT Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC), in partnership with Ostomy Canada Society, hosted the New Brunswick Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Summit to discuss issues and provide solutions to wound, ostomy, and continence within the provincial health care system. Held at the Fredericton Convention Centre, 670 Queen Street, Fredericton, NB, the nearly 100 attendees included patients, health care administration, government and academic decision makers, industry partners, senior nurses from the community and continuing care as well as Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (NSWOCs). This important summit helped move discussions forward on how to improve health outcomes, how to gain access to specialized nursing care and positively impact the lives of people living with wound, ostomy, and continence in the Province of New Brunswick. The Summit’s main objectives were to: ​Update decision makers on best practices in wound, ostomy, and continence within New Brunswick. Evaluate patients’ experience living with an ostomy in New Brunswick versus other provinces. Determine the economic burden for people living with an ostomy through the review of the ostomy impact study. Provide information on the value of a wound, ostomy, and continence tri-specialty to support patient-centred improvements. Engage and strengthen the approach of wound, ostomy, and continence care through health care teams in New Brunswick. Listen to the interview Read the transcript Vanessa Vander Valk 00:00 A national charity is calling on the province to change the way it handles specialized care, Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada or NSWOCC held a summit in the province last week they met with health care administrators, nursing managers and representatives from the province to talk about the gaps and what can be done to improve patient care and clinical outcomes. Cathy Harley is a registered nurse and CEO of NSWOCC. We reached her back in Ottawa. Cathy Harley 00:41 Good afternoon, Vanessa. Vanessa Vander Valk 00:45 Cathy, I suspect a lot of people don't realize that nurses do require this specialized training if they are involved in caring for wounds, ostomy bags or continence care. Why is that important? Cathy Harley 00:59 Across Canada, most nursing programs, maybe touch on the topic of wound, ostomy, or continence, but they don't give in-depth training and in order to deliver wound ostomy and continence safely and effectively, it's very important to have identified competencies, which are the knowledge skills, abilities and behaviours that which contribute to the individual nurse being able to deliver safe and effective care. Vanessa Vander Valk 01:30 What kind of a difference does it make for a patient? Cathy Harley 01:34 It makes a tremendous difference. We know through research that when a nurse specialized in wound ostomy and continence is involved that the patient outcomes are greater. If it's a wound and then healing time will be shorter. If they have an ostomy, they have a reduction in complications such as whether or not their skin breaks down . They also contribute to cost savings across wound, ostomy, and continence. Vanessa Vander Valk 02:08 If we take someone who is living with an ostomy, for example, what kind of risks do they face if they aren't able to access specialized care? Cathy Harley 02:16 If they're not able to access specialized care, first of all they could encounter a lot of stress and anxiety because if for instance, if a pouch or appliance is not staying on appropriately and it keeps falling off, it can cause a lot of anxiety because of course there's nothing there to catch the effluent that is coming out of the body. If it's not fitting securely in place, it could cause a breakdown of skin around the stoma which is the opening that's on the abdomen and ends up very painful and uncomfortable. And it also can impact the overall quality of life because it could prevent them from going to their job or being able to socialize or even come in contact with other family members because there could be a lot of embarrassment. Vanessa Vander Valk 03:17 How many nurses are there in New Brunswick who are trained in this specialty and we're generally do they practice? Cathy Harley 03:24 In New Brunswick, for the two health regions – in Vitalité, which services one third of the Province, there are 7 full time nurses and 2 part time nurses who specialize in wound ostomy and continence that are working predominantly in hospitals. Whereas in Horizon, which services two thirds of the Province, there are only 4 full time NSWOCs, 2 part time, and 2 casual NSWOC positions mostly within the hospital setting. Unfortunately, we don't have any NSWOCs in New Brunswick who are working in long term care where there is a fairly high incidence of prevalence of skin issues and there could be ostomy and there definitely are continence related issues. And in the home care program, they really don't have formal NSWOC positions and so even though in the hospital you have NSWOCs, there aren't enough for the patient population. We are missing NSWOCs when the patient flows through the continuum of care from hospital to community. Vanessa Vander Valk Let me ask you, Cathy, what does happen when someone is sent home now from a hospital with say a wound that will require some care going forward? Cathy Harley 04:47 If the patient is on home care, they would have a home care nurse come into the patient's home who may or may not have specialized education and wound, ostomy and continence. It would depend on the nurse that was assigned to the patient case. Many times patients are discharged into the community and they don't get the follow up that they need and then they'll end up either getting an infection or having other complications and will end up coming back to the hospital and could even be readmitted to the hospital. Vanessa Vander Valk 05:25 What are you asking the province to change that when it comes to the way that it deals with wound ostomy and continence care? Cathy Harley 05:33 Well, there are several things that we've identified that needs to change. First of all, you need more specialized nurses, not just in hospital but going over the continuum of care to home care and long-term care. So that's a transition for the patient is seamless moving from hospital to community. It's really by having more specialized nurses that you're going to get the optimal clinical outcomes and we know that they will save money to the overall health care system because they're doing more thorough assessments, selecting appropriate products and technologies, and monitoring the patient as they move through the system. Secondly, we need to make sure that we have the right number of NSWOCs and SWANs per patient population in each area. Because even though we do have an NSWOCs in the Province of New Brunswick, in most areas there are discrepancies and even in the hospital, the position is underserved for the number of patients that they're seeing. We also need to look at a well thought out and sustainable plan for ostomy reimbursement. Right now in the province it is very different call for people to get reimbursed ostomy appliances unless they have private health insurance, or they have social worker intervention and to access some seniors insurance, but we know through an ostomy impact study that was done that most patients are paying well over $1,000 to $2,200 out of pocket and some people just can't afford it. They get to the situation where do they put food on the table or do they pay for their ostomy supplies and being able to eliminate from your body or go to the bathroom is a basic human right. Vanessa Vander Valk 07:29 What are you doing at this point to ensure that these changes that you're asking for do take place or that there are steps made in that direction? Cathy Harley 07:39 One of the things that we put together for the Province of New Brunswick is an educational strategy. And part of that educational strategy is to provide 30 seats to our foundational wound management program which is under our practice enrichment series, which we will give fairly to long term care, home care, and hospitals in order to help improve the foundational knowledge in wound care as a start. Since we made that announcement, we've had several emails with candidates for the seats and we will continue to follow up on all 30 seats are filled. We also provided information on the other educational programs that are available to nurses and are working with one nurse to help her secure funding to be able to go through the program and become specialized. About the Wound Management Course offered by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute The Wound Management Course is a six-week, paced, online course that's accredited by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). The learning outcomes of the course are to: Increase your knowledge related to evidence-based wound care Improve your ability to advocate for patients with wound related issues Enhance your ability to collaborate with wound care specialists Course registrants also get access to virtual mentorship and knowledge consolidation opportunities with our team of CNA certified Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (NSWOCs). Learn more at https://www.wocinstitute.ca/pes-woc

June 2023 is Pride Month, providing an opportunity to commemorate the ongoing pursuit of equal rights for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community while also celebrating the vast accomplishments of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals around the world. Why June? June is recognized as Pride Month in memory of the Stonewall riots in June of 1969, an event that accelerated the ongoing 2SLGBTQIA+ rights movement. In New York City's Greenwich Village on June 28, 1969, police raided a popular gathering place for members of the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Before long, 400 people were rioting against the police in protest of the unjust treatment, carrying on for five days [1]. This event ultimately lit a spark for the 2SLGBTQIA+ rights movement in the United States. Today, people across the world come together in the month of June for Pride Marches, festivals, and more in honour of the continuous years of struggle for 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Addressing 2SLGBTQi+ Barriers in the Healthcare Industry At Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC), we are working to identify and address organizational barriers to 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in the wound, ostomy and continence healthcare sectors and by extension, in society. Most recently, an invited guest discussed the basic foundations of the 2SLGBTQiA+ acronym and ways to neutralize language at our 42nd National Conference from May 3-7, 2023. In the presentation "(Un)learning 2SLGBTQIA+ Terminology, Together!", they discussed the impact of past and present colonialization and intersecting forms of oppression in creating the norms of sexuality, sex, and gender. Drawing from queer theory, they challenged cisheteronormativity (the expectation that one’s sex matches their gender, and that people are attracted to the opposite sex) and gender essentialism (the idea that gender is inherent) in order to better equip nurses to care for 2SLGBTQiA+ clients. Ultimately, NSWOCC believes equity and diversity is a responsibility that must be worked on collaboratively. Through working together, we can promote inclusivity in order to strengthen our nursing profession and the specialized wound, ostomy and continence care provided to our patients. On behalf of NSWOCC, we wish you a happy Pride Month! [1] https://www.britannica.com/story/why-is-pride-month-celebrated-in-june

[Ottawa, May 30, 2023] – In order to address the issue of wound management through nursing education, Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC®) is thrilled to announce that its Practice Enrichment Series Wound Management course has received accreditation from the prestigious Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). This first CNA accreditation of a wound management course in Canada solidifies NSWOCC's commitment to nursing excellence and patient outcomes and further establishes them as leaders in the field of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing in Canada. The CNA Accreditation Program is renowned for upholding standards of quality for continuing professional development for nurses across Canada. It subjects all accredited programs and offerings to a meticulous quality assessment process, ensuring that learning and development initiatives meet the CNA's standards of excellence. By receiving this accreditation, the NSWOCC® Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute (WOC Institute) demonstrates the unwavering commitment to providing high-quality education and fostering nursing competence [1]. The WOC Institute's mission is to create accessible online communities of learning for registered nurses and allied healthcare professionals, promoting specialized knowledge, skills, and judgment in wound, ostomy, and continence care. Through their accredited educational programs, delivered by a team of expert, dedicated nurse leaders who are certified as Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOC®s) by the Canadian Association of Nurses (CNA), the WOC Institute is at the forefront of driving excellence in wound, ostomy, and continence care. "We are extremely proud to receive accreditation from the Canadian Nurses Association for our Practice Enrichment Series Wound Management Course," said Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc, Academic Chair at NSWOCC. "This recognition affirms our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional education and empowering healthcare professionals to deliver the highest standard of care in wound, ostomy, and continence management. We will continue to lead the way in nursing excellence, ensuring that our programs meet the evolving needs of the nursing community." As NSWOCC continues to support nursing excellence, their CNA-accredited programs serve as a benchmark for quality and professionalism in the NSWOCC® wound, ostomy, and continence education programs. Nurses and healthcare professionals can rely on the NSWOCC® WOC Institute to deliver state-of-the-art online courses that drive a passion for excellence in wound, ostomy, and continence care. For more information about the Practice Enrichment Series Wound Management Course, please visit www.wocinstitute.ca/pes-woc. For more information about the accredited programs offered by the NSWOCC® WOC Institute, visit their official website at www.wocinstitute.ca. Contact us at programmanager@wocinstitute.ca or at 1-877-614-1262. About NSWOCC: Dedicated to supporting the national standard of excellence in wound, ostomy, and continence care, Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC®) is a registered charity for over 500 Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOC®s) and over 800 total members. Through its accredited educational programs and a team of highly skilled nurse leaders, NSWOCC provides specialized knowledge and skills to healthcare professionals across Canada. Learn more at www.nswoc.ca About the WOC Institute: The Wound, Ostomy and Continence (WOC) Institute is wholly owned and operated by the association of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC®). The WOC Institute provides accessible online communities of learning for registered nurses and allied healthcare professionals to promote specialized knowledge, skills and judgment in wound, ostomy and continence. Learn more at www.wocinstitute.ca Media Contact: Catherine Harley, NSWOCC Chief Executive Officer office@nswoc.ca (613) 762-5788 [1]. https://www.cna-aiic.ca/en/accreditation/currently-accredited#:~:text=The%20CNA%20Accreditation%20Program%20upholds%20standards%20of%20quality%20for%20continuing%20professional%20development%20for%20nurses%20in%20Canada

We are thrilled to share the winners of NSWOCC's 2023 Annual Members Meeting (AMM) Awards, presented at the in-person AMM on May 4, 2023. Congratulations to all of the recipients, and thank you for all the hard work that you do! In recognition of excellence in Association Operations Presented to Troy Curtis In recognition of excellence in Indigenous Wound, Ostomy and Continence Health Presented to Bev Smith Presented to Michelle Buffalo In recognition of Leadership in the Development of a French Textbook Presented to Valerie Chaplain In recognition of Excellence in Paediatric Wound, Ostomy and Continence Presented to Stephanie Furtado In recognition of Excellence in Publications - NSWOC Advance Presented to Lina Martins In recognition for Contributions to Establishing the SWAN Role in Canada Presented to Sharon Hunter

Once you complete the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Education Program (WOC-EP) through the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute, you may officially use the designation NSWOC! The final component for the WOC-EP is writing the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Wound, Ostomy and Continence (Canada) certification exam, which, upon achievement, enables the NSWOC to use the credential WOCC(C). Recognized as Nurses who have specialized training in wound, ostomy and continence by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), NSWOCs are the ONLY nursing specialty with CNA certification in wound, ostomy and continence care (WOCC(C)). But how do you properly write your NSWOC credentials to showcase your expertise? We'll show you how: The designations and credentials written behind the name of a Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy & Continence should appear as follows: degrees, credentials, and designations are listed after the name of the individual with or without a comma followed by a single space after each designation. NSWOCC recognizes that nurses within Canada may wish to organize their credentials by professional designation, followed by educational degrees, while others may wish to utilize educational degrees followed by professional designations. NSWOCC does not hold a position as to which method of listing degrees and credentials is correct. The NSWOC designation shall be written after educational degrees, professional designations and credentials but before CNA credentials. Certified Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy & Continence may choose to use both the NSWOC designation and WOCC(C) credential or the WOCC(C) credential alone. It is the choice of the individual but may be dictated by employer requirements. CNA credentials shall directly follow NSWOC if both the designation and credential are being used. Examples of correct English credential utilization: Susan Jones, RN, BScN, MN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) Susan Jones, RN, PhD, NSWOC, WOCC(C) Susan Jones, RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) Susan Jones, RN, BScN, NSWOC Susan Jones, RN, BScN, WOCC(C) Please note that it is incorrect to place a “(C)” for after NSWOC. WOCC(C) is the correct method to display the individual's certification. Neither NSWOC, nor WOCC(C), shall be used in place of a professional designation. The nurse must still note their professional designation (i.e. RN, NP, RN(EC)) after their name according to their provincial legislative requirements. By consistently using your credentials and designations in proper form, this will allow patients, health care professionals and policymakers to clearly identify and understand the expertise of NSWOCs. As the only group with certification in each area of the tri-specialty, it is important that credentials and designations clearly state that a standard of expertise in wound, ostomy and continence has been verified as the subject experts for consultation.