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NSWOCC is proud to share that Marcia Leard, RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), NSWOCC's newly appointed President, was recently awarded the COVID Warrior Coin Award by The Honourable Antoinette Perry, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island (PEI), for her efforts to aid the COVID response in the province. The COVID Warrior Coin was commissioned by Dr. Trevor Jain to recognize the leadership, initiative and hard work of multiple Islanders and organizations who have gone above and beyond during this ongoing response. By collectively working together, Marcia, along with many other Islanders, have stepped up to the plate and given of themselves to enrich the lives of others by doing outstanding acts of goodwill by using their knowledge, expertise and abilities to assist in keeping Islanders safe and well. "Her Honour feels especially privileged to be a part of this recognition program and to present these awards. She is extremely proud of the contributions of our citizens." Please join us in congratulating Marcia on this award!

NSWOCC is thrilled to share that Kimberly LeBlanc, PhD, MN, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), FCAN, Academic Chair of the NSWOCC Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute, was elected as the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) President-Elect today at the CNA Annual General Meeting. As strong nurse leader, we know that her election will support NSWOCs, SWANs, and all nurses across Canada in providing exceptional patient care. We are proud to have a fierce advocate for wound, ostomy and continence nursing at the federal level. Congratulations, Kim!

Marcia Leard, RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) The NSWOCC Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Marcia Leard, RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, as the President of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC). After being a Member of NSWOCC for two decades, serving for two terms as the NSWOCC Atlantic Regional Director and volunteering on the National Conference planning committee and various projects within the association, Marcia is well prepared to undertake this key leadership role. Marcia graduated from the A J McMaster School of Nursing in Moncton NB in 1989 and completed her bachelor’s degree in nursing science at Brandon University in 1995. She brings experience in nursing with having experienced a diverse career including positions in emergency, obstetrics, med- surg, paediatrics and nursing station relief in northwestern Ontario Since 2003, Marcia has been the Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOC) at the Prince County Hospital in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Marcia is taking over from Nevart Hotakorzian who led NSWOCC through a complex COVID 19 era over the past two years. The NSWOCC Board of Directors would like to thank Nevart Hotakorzian for her outstanding leadership and wish her every success as she moves into the past president’s role. The NSWOCC Board of Directors is very pleased to have Marcia Leard as their next President. “Marcia Leard’s leadership capability is grounded in her active participation in NSWOCC for more than two decades. She understands the issues facing wound, ostomy and continence care delivery and will work hard to support the change required to make improvements. Marcia will unify nurses specialized wound, ostomy and continence across Canada in order for their voices to be heard.” About Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) is a registered charity for over 500 nurses specialized in the nursing care of patients with challenges in wound, ostomy and continence and over 750 total members.​ NSWOCC acts in the public interest for Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence to give national leadership in wound, ostomy and continence promoting national standards for NSWOC practice, education, research and administration to achieve the highest quality of specialized nursing care.​ NSWOCC advocates for Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence and provides a strong national association through which nurses can support each other and communicate with a powerful, unified voice.

June 2022 is Pride Month, providing an opportunity to recognize the 2SLGBTQi+ community while also acknowledging that there is much more that can be done to support inclusivity. At Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC), we are working to identify and address organizational barriers to 2SLGBTQi+ inclusion in the wound, ostomy and continence healthcare sectors and by extension, in society. Our board of directors identified the need to develop a set of guiding principles and recommendations to help advance equity and diversity in wound, ostomy and continence management and are committed to making this happen. The NSWOCC Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute is developing a module for the educational programs which will teach students about the 2SLGBTQi+ community and how we can better meet the needs of patients through communication and approaches. This will be launched in the Fall of 2022. 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. In recognition of Pride Month, on June 15 from 7-8pm ET NSWOCC will be hosting a webinar titled “The 2SLGBTQi+: A summary for nurses”, presented by Paul-André Gauthier RN, CNS; PhD (nursing), which will be open to all NSWOCC Members and the public to join for free at www.nswoc.ca/webinar-series. On behalf of NSWOCC, we wish you a happy Pride Month!

May 2, 2022 This is the official notice of the Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) Annual Members Meeting (AMM) taking place Wednesday, May 25th, 2022 at 7PM – 8:15 PM EDT via Zoom Webinar. This AMM meeting will be held as a part of the 2022 – 41st NSWOCC National Annual Conference taking place May 25-28, 2022, as a virtual conference. This AMM will be available only through electronic means (Zoom Webinar Platform). Only current NSWOCC members will be eligible to vote. Please make sure that you renew your membership today by logging into your membership account at https://membersnswoc.ca/. To become an NSWOCC Member, visit https://www.nswoc.ca/become-a-member. If you would like to participate electronically, please register by clicking below: 2022 AMM Package NSWOCC Members will receive the 2022 AMM Members Package and will be able to vote at this meeting. This package contains the Annual Members Meeting Agenda, the NSWOCC 2021-2022 Annual Report, the NSWOCC 2021 AMM Meeting Minutes, and the 2022 Election Slate of Directors and Officers of the association. 2022 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! Please review the package carefully prior to the May 25, 2022 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

NSWOCC and Queen's University are partnering with the Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) to provide an Introductory Series on the Diabetic Foot. You are invited to join other Community providers and specialists from across Canada! What is Project ECHO? Project ECHO is A LEARNING COMMUNITY for healthcare providers who have an interest in skin and wound care. The Project ECHO model features: live online sessions de-identified patient cases collaborative case discussions and care planning Details Held virtually on Zoom, on Wednesdays on June 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd from 2-4pm ET Didactic of 40 minutes duration followed by interactive case discussions. CME Credits provided and accredited by Queen’s University Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development. Certificate of attendance issued by Queen’s University. Presented by: DR. GARY SIBBALD BSc, MD, MEd, D.Sc (Hon), FRCPC (Med), (Derm), FAAD, MAPWCA, JM Professor of Medicine and Public Health, University of Toronto Project Lead, ECHO Skin and Wound + Interprofessional Wound Care Team Approach Schedule: June 1st Prevention and screening for the high-risk diabetic foot: wound bed preparation, optimal glycemic control, simplified 60 second screen Assess persons with diabetes for high-risk foot Optimize blood glucose control with an emphasis on hemoglobin A1c, and blood pressure Introduce wound bed preparation as an organized approach to leg and foot ulcer care June 8th Arterial supply and concept of ability to heal Evaluate arterial circulation with the audible handheld doppler (AHHD) and ABPI Assess lower leg and foot ulcers for healing ability Utilize non-invasive vascular testing as a partial means of categorizing ulcer ability to heal (healable, non-healable, maintenance) June 15th Infection - local infection, deep and surrounding infection, NERD/STONEES Evaluate lower leg and foot ulcers (including Charcot foot, osteomyelitis in persons with diabetes) clinically for signs of local infection or deep, and surrounding infection Assess the utility of bacterial swabs, laboratory investigations and diagnostic imaging in the management of infection Integrate the treatment of infection with clinical monitoring and treatment choices June 22nd Plantar pressure redistribution - contact cast and removable cast walker made irremovable, other offloading Assess the utility of the options for plantar pressure redistribution Evaluate the role of the total contact cast versus the removable cast walker made irremovable Relate the use of plantar pressure redistribution to clinical signs and improvement in diabetic foot ulcer healing trajectory

Happy National Nursing Week! Theme: #WeAnswerTheCall On behalf of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada, we would like to wish you a happy National Nursing Week! May 9-15, 2022: The National Nursing Week annual celebrations take place from the Monday to the Sunday of the same week as Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12. The theme this year is #WeAnswerTheCall and was developed by CNA to showcase the many roles that nurses play in a patient’s health-care journey. The pandemic brought to light the courage and commitment that nurses work under every day and showed the important role that nurses play in the community. Learn more at https://www.cna-aiic.ca/en/news-events/national-nursing-week Hospital News 2022 Nursing Hero Awards: NSWOC Christie Cowan awarded 3rd prize In recognition of National Nursing Week, we are happy to highlight one of our NSWOCC Members. Christie Cowan, RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) from the Ottawa Hospital was awarded 3rd prize by The Hospital News 2022 Nursing Hero Awards! The Hospital News 2022 Nursing Hero Awards were recently announced to recognize those nurses across Canada who showed acts of heroism through their everyday work to help strangers. In the thank you letter to all nurses, Kristie Jones, Editor of Hospital News, wrote: "Many of you (our nurses) were the ones at the bedsides of patients when they took their last breath. Providing care and comfort that their families were unable to provide. You worked around the clock, spent time away from your families and put yourselves at risk staring this virus right in the face. You did all of this while some refused to wear masks and even protested outside of your hospitals - yet you still came to work. Over the years there has been a lot of talk about how broken our health care system is. Through-out the pandemic we were warned of a health care system at the brink of rationing care for COVID-19 patients. Fortunately, that didn't materialize. That is in large part because of you. Our nurses. You showed up everyday. Many of you came out of retirement to aid in the battle. Thank you. To every single person who has worked in a hospital/long-term care setting over the last two years - thank you. you are all heroes." Is there an NSWOC or SWAN you want to acknowledge? Do you have news or you want NSWOCC to share to our members? Email office@nswoc.ca to submit your announcement today!

On behalf of the NSWOCC Board of Directors, we are pleased to announce two new Core Program Leaders! Membership Core Program Leader Shelly Barnes, RN, BN, NSWOC, WOCC (C) Shelly is currently working as a Clinical Practice Educator in Long Term Care for Island Health in Victoria, BC. Shelly also supports her NSWOC colleagues in the Virtual Visit program on Vancouver Island, providing Long Term Care facilities equitable access to NSWOC care. Knowledge of adult education principles, and ability to adapt to various levels of education and learning styles has been an important aspect of this role. She has been a nurse for many years and has worked on a variety of medical-surgical acute care units, as well as community health/ambulatory clinics and residential care. These experiences have helped her develop respect for a collaborative approach to safe, patient-centred care. A proud member of NSWOCC, Shelly recently participated in the NSWOCC Canadian Urinary Diversions Position Statement Project and recently joined the NSWOCC Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute as an Academic Advisor for the SWAN program. Shelly is interested in membership experience and benefits and joined the inaugural NSWOCC Membership Core Program committee where she has now been appointed the Membership Core Program Leader. Shelly brings experience from being involved in other not for profit groups where she was a local volunteer with the Victoria Symphony, Victoria Film Festival, and as Board member with the Early Music Society of the Islands. We are glad to have Shelly as a new Core Program Leader and welcome her to this role. SWAN Community of Practice Leader Sharon Hunter, RPN, IIWCC, SWAN Sharon is a Registered Practical Nurse from Bath, Ontario, who has extensive experience in community care and who currently holds the position of Operations Manager with Bayshore Homecare Solutions. In addition to becoming a RPN, Sharon has completed the Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN) Program through the NSWOCC Wound Ostomy Continence Institute, and the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course – University of Toronto and holds an Advanced Foot Care Certificate. She is a current Member of WeRPN and a WeRPN Region 5 Board Member. Sharon has a demonstrated interest in leadership as evidenced by completing a Canadian College of Health Leaders - Leadership certificate, the Pallium Canada - Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative care (LEAP) Certificate, and the RNAO Leadership Certificate. She was involved on the task force who developed Quality Statements related to pressure injury, diabetic foot and lower leg ulcers with expert panel facilitated by Health Quality Ontario. We welcome Sharon in her new role and wish her every success.

Call for Nominations OPEN LEADERSHIP POSITION: Ontario The Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy & Continence Canada (NSWOCC) Board of Directors has the following elected Board Director position open: Regional Director – Ontario Term: 2 years, commencing May 25, 2022, with opportunity to run for an additional 2 years. NOMINATIONS DEADLINE: May 5, 2022 Qualifications: Must be a Member of the NSWOCC for a minimum of two (2) years as a member in good standing. Must be a Registered Nurse who has successfully completed a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Education Program that is recognized by WCET OR a non-registered nurse who completed a recognized Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Education Program prior to 1976. Not an employee or representative of a company whose primary business involves the development, manufacture, and sole distribution of products in the field of wound, ostomy, and/or continence care; and The individual cannot be a contractor of NSWOCC. How to Apply: The Nominations paper work can be found below:

Call for Nominations OPEN LEADERSHIP POSITION: Atlantic Region The Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy & Continence Canada (NSWOCC) Board of Directors has the following elected Board Director position open: Regional Director – Atlantic Term: 2 years, commencing May 25, 2022, with opportunity to run for an additional 2 years. NOMINATIONS DEADLINE: May 5, 2022 Qualifications: Must be a Member of the NSWOCC for a minimum of two (2) years as a member in good standing. Must be a Registered Nurse who has successfully completed a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Education Program that is recognized by WCET OR a non-registered nurse who completed a recognized Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Education Program prior to 1976. Not an employee or representative of a company whose primary business involves the development, manufacture, and sole distribution of products in the field of wound, ostomy, and/or continence care; and The individual cannot be a contractor of NSWOCC. How to Apply: The Nominations paper work can be found below:

Nous sommes fiers de célébrer tous les ISPSC à travers le pays qui continuent d'améliorer la vie des patients, qui innovent dans la résolution de problèmes et qui sont passionnés par le leadership, surtout lorsqu'ils surmontent l'adversité. Nous croyons que chaque personne mérite des soins spécialisés en plaies, stomies et continence. Nous croyons que tout le monde mérite un ISPSC. En reconnaissance de cette mission et de cette vision, nous espérons que vous vous joindrez à nous pour célébrer la semaine des ISPSCs/stomothérapeutes du 18 au 22 avril 2022. Le thème de cette année est : Compétence. Imputabilité. Pérennité. CÉLÉBRONS LES ISPSCs/ STOMOTHÉRAPEUTES SEMAINE DES ISPSCs/STOMOTHÉRAPEUTES 18 au 22 avril 2022 Compétence Avant la pandémie mondiale, les ISPSCs étaient des infirmières avec du leadership pour mener recherches et changements de politiques organisationnelles ainsi que pour offrir des soins de plaies, de stomies et de continence, basés sur la compétence et l’efficience. Imputabilité Pendant la pandémie, les ISPSCs ont relevé le défi et ont été des leaders tout au long de la crise nationale des soins de santé. Pérennité Les ISPSCs continueront d’être des leaders en recherche sur les soins de plaies, de stomies et de continence, et d’influencer les politiques organisationnelles tout en s’assurant que les meilleures pratiques se rendent au chevet du patient afin de soutenir des soins de santé durables.

We are proud to celebrate all NSWOCs across the country who continue to enhance patients' lives, are innovative in solving problems, and are passionate about leading, especially in the face of adversity. We believe that every person deserves specialized wound, ostomy and continence care. We believe that everyone deserves an NSWOC. In recognition of this mission and vision, we want you to join us in celebrating NSWOC Week from April 18-22, 2022. This year's theme is: Competent. Accountable. Sustainable. CELEBRATING NSWOCs NSWOC WEEK April 18-22, 2022 Competent Before the global pandemic, NSWOCs were nurse leaders in driving and implementing research, policy, and delivering competency based wound, ostomy and continence clinical and cost effective care. Accountable During the pandemic, NSWOCs rose to the challenge, and were leaders throughout the national healthcare crisis. Sustainable NSWOCs will continue to lead wound, ostomy and continence research, influence policy and ensure best practices are translated to the bedside in order to support sustainable healthcare. In order to recognize NSWOCs across Canada, we are providing a series of posters featuring NSWOCs from each NSWOCC region, as well as one National flyer and one dedicated to our Indigenous Wound, Ostomy and Continence Core Program. Please feel free to download and share these flyers over social media or in your facility during NSWOC Week.