By Sarah Biggart (Convatec me+™)

Frequently I speak to callers about the challenges of caring for an ostomate with memory loss. Often time, people who were previously self-sufficient, independent ostomates become pre-occupied with their pouch; sometimes even pulling on it, which could cause numerous issues1,2.

This could be in the future for some of us, and a reality some caregivers are facing now as they care for and support loved ones.

If you are assisting a loved one, and you see them tugging, pulling, scratching or playing with their appliance, the first thing you should consider is that there may be a reason for this behavior. Their peristomal skin may be itching or burning, or they might be experiencing pain or discomfort around the stoma3. For someone who may have trouble communicating, this could be their way of letting you know something is wrong.

If this is a new behavior, contact your local ostomy nurse or healthcare provider. It’s important to rule out any medical issues they may be experiencing.

If the issue is determined to be purely behavioral, we have some suggested tips and tricks that may help as you care for and support your loved one.

Pouch Change Tips1,2,3:

  • Create a safe, relaxed environment. Take your cues from your loved one considering where they are the most comfortable. Maybe instead of standing in the bathroom, try laying down on the bed with soothing music or a favorite show playing in the background.
  • If evenings can be tough, a morning pouch change before eating breakfast may make more sense for you.
  • Keep ostomy supplies organized and clearly labeled for people who may be able to handle pouch changes independently or for rotating caregivers.
  • Use a calendar or the My Ostomy Journey App to track pouch changes. Do not wait until there is a leak to change the pouch. A leaking pouch may contribute to skin breakdown issues.
  • It may be necessary to store pastes, powders and sprays securely, as patients may attempt to tamper with or ingest these items.
  • Try ostomy accessories designed to simplify pouch changes.

Daily Living Tips1,2,3:

  • Many people with memory loss find comfort in routine. Find a rhythm to ostomy related tasks, such as emptying the pouch, and use the same verbiage each time to bring familiarity. Coordinate with the entire care team to ensure everyone is aligned with using similar language and prompts.
  • Staying occupied may help with keeping hands away from the pouching system. Things like puzzles, sorting items and folding something, may be just the thing to help.
  • Try an Ostomy wrap. Employing the “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” principal, a wrap helps to keep the pouch concealed and supported. A good ostomy wrap is made from a soft and stretchy wicking fabric and helps to keep sweat and moisture away from the skin and the wearer cool and comfortable.

Feeling isolated while providing care for loved ones is a common challenge, we encourage utilizing groups for ostomy support.

And remember that caregivers need care too. You may find comfort in your local Ostomy Support group Find one near you on the UOAA support group finder: https://www.ostomy.org/support-group-finder/.

 

Ruth and her family were confused and stressed when they had to take on the care of their 99-year- old mother’s ostomy.

“My mother has had a colostomy for nearly 60 years. She is now 99 years old with dementia, but had been independently keeping up with her stoma and pouch until just a few years ago. When family members started taking on the task of assisting her, we had to scramble to get up-to-speed since we never paid attention to the details of changing her “appliance” or emptying and re-closing the pouch.”

Ruth connected with me+™ to learn more about how to use ostomy products and accessories, and received follow up product samples and ongoing support.

“Erica was compassionate, truly listened to the problems we were encountering with my mother’s situation, and suggested products that addressed each of those challenges. The bottom line is Erica made me feel supported in my mother’s care, and that she cared that our family wanted my mother’s quality of life upheld when other healthcare providers wrote her off due to her age and mental condition. Erica contributed to us honoring my mother’s wonderfully rich and productive life at a time when that’s not evident to a stranger’s eye. We are so grateful for the support we’ve received through Convatec’s me+ Clinical Support Nurse Team.”

 

If you have questions about product sampling or nurse support available through the me+™ program, please contact us at 1-800-422-2211 or cic@convatec.com.  We look forward to helping you soon.

Editor’s note: This blog is from one of our digital sponsors, Convatec. Sponsor support along with donations from readers like you help to maintain our website and the free trusted resources of UOAA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

References:

  1. DementiaUK, Caring for a person with a Stoma and Dementia. https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/health-advice/caring-for-a-person-with-a-stoma-and-dementia/. Accessed November 13th, 2023.
  2. United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc, Dementia Stoma Care. https://www.ostomy.org/dementia-stoma-care/. Accessed November 13th, 2023.
  3. McGrogan M. How holistic assessment and appropriate product selection will enhance quality of life for ostomates with cognitive impairment. WCET® Journal 2021;41(1):33-35

Thanks to the ongoing generosity of the ostomy community donating to UOAA’s scholarship fund, we were able to provide this award in the amount of $3000 to another nurse. UOAA is excited to announce that the 2023 recipient of the Educational Award for Ostomy Nurse Certification is Ashlee Cranage from California!

Below a grateful and honored Ashlee shares a little bit about herself and her motivation to become a certified ostomy nurse.

My name is Ashlee Cranage and I am so honored to be the recipient of UOAA’s Educational Award for Ostomy Nurse Certification. Becoming a certified ostomy care nurse is no easy task, and I am grateful to be recognized by UOAA as I strive to make a difference in the ostomy community.

I joined Community Memorial Healthcare in Ventura, CA as a new graduate registered nurse six years ago, starting out on the post-surgical unit. In March 2022, I joined the inpatient Wound and Ostomy Care Department working alongside both a certified Wound Ostomy Continence (WOC) nurse and a certified wound specialist (CWS). This job opportunity has opened my eyes to the impact that certified ostomy nurses bring to the healthcare field, and most importantly patient care. I became a Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) in September 2022 and became a Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN) in April 2023. 

One thing that I have learned this past year is that there is such a need for certified ostomy care nurses, and I am excited to be able to contribute to that need and make a difference!

Prior to working in wound and ostomy care, my ostomy knowledge and skillset was very limited. I could proficiently change a simple pouching system, but I did not have the confidence to troubleshoot a leaking pouching system, nonetheless teach patients adequately about their ostomy care post-surgery. Once I began my new role, I started seeing patients with ostomies more frequently and I knew I needed to be more comfortable with their ostomy care. Following our certified WOC nurse periodically and being present for the meaningful conversations and positive impact that she had on her patients, made me want to further pursue my education to do this too. Being present for those hard conversations, watching her connect with her patients and continue to follow up with them post discharge as well, motivated me to be able to also achieve this higher skill level and knowledge to make an impact. 

With my recent certification in ostomy nursing, I now have the knowledge to better my nursing practice and care for the patients with ostomies that our department sees on a day-to-day basis. I have the expertise to be able to be there pre and post-surgery, help patients navigate life with an ostomy and support them throughout their journey. I aspire to continue to work alongside my colleagues with the creation of a free ostomy clinic for our community to better be able to help and support at any time during their ostomy journey, whether they’ve had it for 2 weeks or 20+ years. I also aspire to be a support system for my patients by joining my colleague in holding a monthly ostomy support group where individuals can come together to share their experiences, tips and tricks and seek information or support that they may need. For some, getting an ostomy, whether it is elective or emergent, may be a scary situation in the beginning. However, having a certified ostomy care nurse to help navigate any challenges and provide information and support can turn a scary situation into a learning opportunity full of hope and willingness to learn. 

One thing that I have learned this past year is that there is such a need for certified ostomy care nurses, and I am excited to be able to contribute to that need and make a difference!

Congratulations, Ashlee!

The next scholarship application will open, pending funding availability, in January 2024 and closes on June 30, 2024. 

If you’d like to donate to the Ostomy Nurse Scholarship Fund online, please complete the Donate Form, and at the bottom under the ”Additional Comments” section, please note “Ostomy Nurse Scholarship Fund”. You can also send a check made payable to UOAA, in the memo line include the Fund name, and mail to PO Box 2293, Biddeford, ME  04005-2293.

There are two main types of stomas, and they both have certain “ideal” characteristics in common. Do you know what they are?

Wound care nurses know that it’s not uncommon to hear the terms ostomy and stoma used interchangeably, even though they have different meanings.

What is a stoma?

Let’s start with the basics:

  • The stoma is the mouth-like, visible part of an ostomy.
  • A fecal or urinary stoma is composed of mucous membrane or the lining of the intestine that’s exposed to the surface.
  • Following ostomy surgery, effluent (output) — such as fecal matter, urine, or mucous — will pass through the opening of the stoma, called the lumen.
  • The patient will not have voluntary control of the effluent expelled by the stoma.

Types of stomas

There two major categories of stomas: the end and the loop.

End stoma

An end stoma is created when the surgeon brings one end of the GI tract through the abdominal wall, then folds it over. The surgeon then removes the other end or sews it shut.

In some cases, the surgeon will create end stomas from both ends of the GI tract, called a double-barrel stoma. In this case, you’ll see two distinct stomas: the proximal stoma discharges stool and the distal stoma discharges mucous. Sometimes an expanse of skin separates the two stomas, and sometimes they will share the same opening. This construction is most common for infants or very small children.

Loop stoma

To create this type of colostomy, the surgeon lifts a loop of the transverse colon through the abdomen. The colon is given a small split on the side facing out, and a rod is placed underneath for support. The rod may be removed after a few days when support is no longer needed. The proximal opening of the stoma drains stool from the intestine, while the distal opening of the stoma drains mucus. Loop stomas are usually created for temporary ostomies.

Characteristics of an ideal healthy stoma

Each stoma is unique, just as each patient’s physiology is unique. Different surgical techniques will result in stomas of different appearance. At the same time, the “ideal” stoma has some identifiable characteristics:

Moist

The inner surface of the stoma continually produces mucus to cleanse the stoma. Mucus production is a normal function of the intestines that serves as natural lubrication for food passing through the body. The mucus gives the healthy stoma a wet appearance.

Beefy red

Blood flow is essential to the health of the stoma. Normal stoma tissue is highly vascular and will appear deep pink to red. Pale pink is also normal in a urinary stoma. Stoma tissue may even bleed slightly when rubbed or irritated, which is normal. When a stoma turns pale, or dark, it means there’s a problem with the blood supply, so be sure to investigate.

Round

A round stoma is easiest to measure with circular rulers. It also works best with pre-cut skin barriers (the part of the ostomy appliance that affixes to the skin and attaches to pouch). An oval or irregularly shaped stoma may require cut-to-fit skin barriers.

The shape is affected by the type of ostomy and the individual’s body composition. The shape can also vary with the wave-like muscular contractions of the intestines, the peristaltic movement.

Budded/protruding

When a stoma has a rosebud shape (rather than flat or retracted), it protrudes into the pouching system. This allows the effluent to fall out into the pouch away from the body. The ideal protrusion is 2-3 cm with a lumen in the very center.

Strategically located

To easily accommodate the skin barrier, it’s ideal to have 2-3 inches of flat skin around the stoma. Avoid beltlines, bony prominences, skin folds, suture lines, or the umbilicus (belly button). Also, the patient will have more success managing a stoma located in an area that they can see and reach.

Stoma assessment

The stoma itself has no sensory nerve endings, which means there is no sensation for the patient. In other words, the patient may not feel pain or discomfort if the stoma becomes lacerated or injured. Therefore, your thorough clinical assessment of the stoma and the surrounding skin is essential to catching problems early.

Ostomy basics for healthcare clinicians: upcoming wound care conference session

As the third largest wound care conference in the nation, Wild on Wounds (WOW) is focused on advancing the healthcare workforce with impactful, innovative, hands-on wound care education built by and for clinicians.

This year, Joy Hooper, RN, BSN, CWOCN, OMS, WCC, AWCC, will present, “Ostomy: Basics and Beyond” which will provide a better level of understanding of colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy surgery. The surgeries will be explained in a simple, relatable show-and-tell progression that builds on healthcare clinicians’ understanding GI tract anatomy. The presentation will include the concepts of peristomal skin protection from output and the different types of appliances available. The session will also include trouble shooting common peristomal skin common complications.

The session is intended for dieticians, nurses, and physical therapists and offers 4.00 contact hours. Learning objectives from the session include:

  • Identifying how to communicate basic ostomy care based on individual type of ostomy as it relates to a patient’s ostomy type
  • Selecting interventions to preserve peristomal skin integrity
  • Recognizing how to use ostomy products to customize fit thus promoting quality of life

WOW details

This year’s 17th annual WOW event is brought to you by the Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI) and Nurse.com, part of the parent company Relias’ family of brands. The conference will take place from September 13–16 in Hollywood, Florida. Conference attendees can choose from dozens of educational sessions and earn up to 25 contact hours for CE credits.

WOW offers innovative, interactive, and informative sessions, including simulation workshops, live product demonstrations, and a new pre-conference track with an entire day of legal sessions. Also new this year is a virtual poster hall featuring the latest in clinical research, clinical practice outcomes, evidence-based interventions, new technology, management of complex wounds, and more.

To learn more and register for Wild on Wounds, visit here.

-Natalie Vaughn, MBA, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Relias

In an effort to contribute to a solution on narrowing that large gap between the patients who need a certified ostomy nurse and the number of available certified ostomy nurses, United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc. is sponsoring a scholarship award. More nurses specialized in ostomy care will lead to improved ostomy care in the United States.

Thanks to the ongoing generosity of the ostomy community donating to the scholarship fund, UOAA can provide this annual award in the amount of $3000. UOAA is excited to announce that the 2022 recipient of the Educational Award for Ostomy Nurse Certification is Jessica Peters from Maryland!

Below a grateful and honored Jessica shares a little bit about herself and her motivation to become a certified ostomy nurse.

I have worked as a surgical nurse at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center (JHBMC) since graduating with my Associate degree from Community College of Baltimore County, in Maryland in 2008. In 2020 I received my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Chamberlain University. Now an Advancement in Clinical Excellence (ACE) nurse, and a permanent charge nurse, I strive for the best patient outcomes.

In 2021 I received the Johns Hopkins school of nursing’s “Jarvis Star Nurse Award” for outstanding clinical excellence in nursing. In 2022 I humbly accepted the “Nurse of the Year” award from my hospital, JHBMC.

I contribute to both hospital and unit councils and committees, and my passions include mobility, safe patient handling equipment, ostomy, wound education, Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP), and fall prevention.

My motivation and excitement to become a certified ostomy nurse come from the experiences and knowledge I’ve attained working in the surgical unit for 13 years at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Working in General surgery, you see many medical diagnoses and care for the patients following various surgical procedures. Colorectal and continent diversion surgeries are common in our unit, and I’ve noticed that patients, particularly receiving ostomy care and education, are unique and have many challenges to overcome. It takes extraordinary compassion to care for a patient having this surgery. I believe an ostomate is on a journey, and I’ve always wanted to be there on their journey, making sure every step is taken with care and consideration.

At the end of 2020, my passion for ostomy care evolved when I started the JHBMC’s first-ever “unit-based” ostomy committee. The committee meets monthly and has an organized agenda for discussion. The diverse group includes the unit staff, case manager, dietitian, surgeons, and Wound Ostomy Continence nurses from inpatient and outpatient healthcare teams. Our streamlined approach relies on communicating about the ostomate throughout the transitions of care. We also share best practices as a group and have created tools to make educating the patient as unambiguous as possible.  With the committee’s support, I created a spreadsheet to audit for proper orders and tasks required during the hospital stay and a step-by-step bedside checklist to ensure all ostomy tasks and teaching are completed before discharge. We have achieved much as a committee but most profoundly, we have the data to show our ostomy best practices, and comprehensive education model resulted in zero hospital readmissions from 2021-2022!

I plan to contribute to the field by sharing the insight and best practices I’ve gained from the committee at my hospital. I have the most incredible Wound Ostomy Continence nurse mentor and plan to receive my certification through the WEB WOC Nursing Education Program.

The past two years have been exciting, and it’s been a privilege to have a career that I love. My ultimate goal is to have the best skills and knowledge in ostomy care and to serve my hospital and community independently as a certified ostomy nurse. I look forward to advancing my career and can’t wait to continue this journey.

Congratulations, Jessica!

The next scholarship application will be available in January 2023 and closes on June 30, 2023. 

If you’d like to donate to the Ostomy Nurse Scholarship Fund online, please complete the Donate Form, and at the bottom under the ”Additional Comments” section, please note “Ostomy Nurse Scholarship Fund”. You can also send a check made payable to UOAA, in the memo line include the Fund name, and mail to PO Box 525, Kennebunk, ME  04043.

I started my career as a surgical ICU and flight nurse providing care to the critically ill both on the ground and in the air. Flash forward 34 years, I now am the complex abdomen specialist at Regions Hospital, which is a Level I Trauma Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. As a wound and ostomy certified nurse, I specialize in complex abdominal wall injuries and enteric fistulas. I often see patients with abdominal disasters that require many levels of support including diverting ostomies and total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

A rare and serious condition called Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) occurs in patients when part of their intestines are surgically removed or injured, and the remaining intestine may not be able to absorb enough nutrients from food and drink.

To learn more about SBS, visit https://sbs-whattoknow.com/. To join the community and talk with others who are living with SBS, check out https://www.facebook.com/TakedaSBS/.

In my experience, SBS doesn’t impact life early on in a trauma patient’s world while in the ICU. At that time, they often have little to no output of fecal matter because the body is working overtime to support the heart, lungs, brain, etc. Patients’ memories of the hospitalization usually begin once they reach our general care floor, which is when they start to mobilize, eat, and drink.

All this happening simultaneously with a patient awaking to learn that they now have an ostomy can often feel overwhelming to a patient and the family or friends who care for them. Patients and family caregivers may experience grief at the realization that they now have a temporary or irreversible ostomy. The emotional adjustment can take time. And since management of the ostomy and pouch is frequently paired with that of other injuries sustained by the patient, education is incredibly significant at this stage.

At our hospital, we have a stepwise program that involves the entire facility care team – dieticians, surgical staff, bedside nurses, patient care assistants, and other allied health professionals. We start by explaining what is happening with the patient’s body and why it requires management: SBS puts patients at risk for malnutrition, electrolyte disturbances, dehydration, and increased ostomy output. Additionally, patients and family caregivers often go through the stages of grief while mourning the loss of what they consider to be a normal lifestyle. Patient and caregiver education is incredibly significant at this stage. 

 

When it comes to SBS, I often quote nutrition support specialist, Carol Parrish, MS, RDN, “It’s not the length of the bowel, it’s the functionality.” In my opinion, following Ms. Parrish’s handbook for SBS is beneficial to the patient. You can’t prepare a patient for what comes with an SBS diagnosis, and no two situations are the same. When possible, we try to eliminate the need for long-term TPN for our patients and move toward management of SBS through strict meal planning and medication.

 

Weaning off TPN is a process that takes time, patience and commitment from patients and caregivers. It is important to educate and re-educate the care teams on medication choices and food and drink choices. I’ve seen great success from patients and caregivers that are diligent in tracking how certain food and drink affect them beyond their stay in the hospital.

 

SBS is a rare condition that is still not widely recognized in the medical community. More education for providers and access to care for patients is essential. Teamwork is key in managing the changes and challenges that come with an SBS diagnosis. There are resources available to help patients and caregivers as they navigate the journey with SBS and seek support.

 

Mary Anne Obst RN, BSN, CCRN, CWON, CWS is a complex abdomen specialist at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

This article was created by Takeda.

 

Editor’s Note: This educational article is from one of our digital sponsors, Takeda. Sponsor support along with donations from our readers like you help to maintain our website and the free trusted resources of UOAA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

This event has passed but you can view it below. “This is My Life Now: A Patient Guide to Advocacy” By ConvaTec featuring UOAA Advocates.

Join ConvaTec for a live discussion with ostomates, nurses and other healthcare professionals at their two-session, one-day virtual summit on Friday, October 1, 2021.

“Ostomates’ Rights Are Human Rights – anytime and anywhere” is this year’s World Ostomy Day theme, which is why ConvaTec is bringing together ostomates, nurses and caregivers to lead open discussions that will be patient rights-focused fostering awareness, education, and advocacy.  Together we will have conversations that matter!

The Patient Summit will be broken into two sessions:

Session 1, 1pm EST: This Is My Life Now: A Patient’s Guide to Advocacy:

Joanna Burgess, BSN, RN, CWOCN. Is a WOC Nurse at Convatec and is Co-Chair of UOAA’s Advocacy Committee

Jeanine Gleba, MEd., UOAA Advocacy Manager

Ellyn Mantell is a UOAA Advocate, Author and Ostomy Support Group Leader.

Did you know that by knowing your patient rights and feeling empowered and exercising those rights – you can take those situations where you felt down and make it positive. Think, “This is MY life now. I have the right to be me.”

Learn about your local and international ostomy support resources, understand your patient rights, and feel empowered to exercise those rights in this session.

Scheduled panelists:

• Ellyn Mantell (United States), UOAA Advocate, Ostomy Support Group Leader

• Jeanine Gleba (United States), United Ostomy Associations of America, Advocacy Manager

• Joanna Burgess (United States), WOCN, ConvaTec me+™ Nurse, UOAA Advocacy Committee Co-Chair

 

Session 2, 3pm EST: Creating a Healthy Bond: Healthcare Support for Your Patients:

Allison Rosen is UOAA’s World Ostomy Day Champion, a colorectal cancer advocate and Ostomy Support Team Member at MD Anderson.

Healthy bonds in life are all around us. But there may be times it feels difficult to bond. Do you know, or do your patients know, about the resources available for support? Whether that is support with a nutritionist so they can learn about fiber intake, or with an exercise therapist to get guidance on hernia prevention. It could even be the support a therapist can provide navigating new emotions in your personal relationships. There are healthy bonds that can be built between an ostomate and their healthcare professionals.

Create a strong bond with your patients and healthcare providers. Get to know the different types of pre and post-operative support available.

Scheduled panelists:

• Lorena Eltz (Brazil), Patient Advocate

• Lorraine Grover (United Kingdom), Psychosexual Nurse Specialist

• Allison Rosen (United States), United Ostomy Associations of America- World Ostomy Day Champion

 

Editor’s note: This blog is from ConvaTec, Platinum Sponsor of the 2021 Run for Resilience Ostomy 5k. This event raises ostomy awareness and helps fund the services and programs of UOAA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

 

In celebration of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (WOC) Nurse Week 2021, help us to shine a bright light on these special nurses. They give us the hope, support, and specialized care needed to thrive in life with an ostomy.

WOC nurse volunteers spend countless hours advocating, leading support groups, educating, fundraising, and supporting UOAA programs and services. UOAA recognizes that not all ostomy patients have access to a WOC nurse and we’ll continue to advocate for access to a specialized ostomy nurse from preoperatively when your stoma site is marked through an ongoing lifetime continuum of care as outlined in our Ostomy and Continent Diversion Patient Bill of Rights.

We asked UOAA’s social media community to share how a WOC nurse has made a difference in your life, health, or support group. We hope more nurses will consider this rewarding specialty. Thank you WOC nurses, you are our guiding lights.

I would like to thank my WOC nurses who have and continue to support me as an ostomate. My nurses inspired me so much I went to nursing school and graduate this month with a BSN and plan on continuing on. To become a WOC nurse myself! Thank you WOC nurses! -Katie Lee

“My WOC was a lady named Gayle. She helped my Mom so much with me. I remember many visits to the ER ward and having her there. She was funny, nice and on it. I used to love seeing her. She stayed by my side from 3-6yr old into my adulthood. She fought hard to find a bag that was the perfect fit for me. She got a new product in and it changed my life significantly, she fought tooth and nail to keep me in that bag, even when Canada decided to stop offering it openly. I still wear that brand to this day. I always heard rumors she was also an Ostomate and I can’t say how long. That made me love her more. I will never forget those who had a hand in my welfare and saw me through their entire career. I miss her and the others immensely. Jody is my new WOC and although I rarely need her, she’s there to help, even if it’s a panic situation that couldn’t wait for an appointment.” –Camille C.

“Joanna Burgess Happy WOC Nurse week. You have been a true Angel of Mercy for me over the years!” –Col Justin Blum

“My son’s WOC nurses at CHLA were awesome!!” – Teri C.

I am a WOCN and worked with MANY ostomy patients in the past. The thanks go both ways — I have never (in a long nursing career) felt as appreciated for my clinical skills and assistance as I do when working with people with an ostomy. They are the reason I have stayed in nursing. -Cris R.

This is Karen with my husband at his 55th birthday party in 2019 -Pam Allen Williamson

We have 3 great WOC nurses in our community that come to our ostomy support meetings Karen Eubank, Michael Byars and Jason Pratt. Michael went above and beyond by creating a weekly outpatient ostomy clinic after I told him I learned some cities had those while attending a UOAA conference. Karen who has been coming to our meetings for over a decade, hosts many of our support group parties at her house, works at the ostomy clinic on a regular basis, pays to store donated supplies and often helps people after hours. Both of them visit my husband when he is hospitalized, came to the house to visit him when he was home on hospice and came to his funeral. We are extra grateful to Karen because before he left the hospital on hospice she applied a special high output bag connected to bed drainage bag to minimize the family’s need to interact with the ostomy. Karen who is a neighbor told me that she would come change the bag twice a week. The hospice nurse was fascinated and stayed late to watch Karen change it out. He was going to stay in the hospital as long as they would let him to avoid family having to deal with his bag because he had always been so independent with it until nearly the end. Karen’s solution allowed him to come home and be surrounded by family caregivers that loved him and have wonderful conversations remembering fun times and having important conversations instead of the visitor limitations hospitals right now. We are so grateful to her for this and hope it will benefit other families of bed-bound patients. BTW we still fondly remember my husband’s first WOCN Nurse Licklighter who was a nurse at Keesler AFB in 1993. She marked him before surgery and taught him how to handle his bag and he kept her handwritten instructions forever and sometimes copied them for others. -Pam A.W.

I can’t thank the nurses at Ohio Health Riverside Hospital they helped me so much and made an otherwise difficult transition quite non traumatic! –Carol B.

Thank you to Erin and Vanessa at New York Presbyterian! –Jameson Cycz

The ConvaTec nurse Lorelei. She has been a stoma saver. She helped me troubleshoot my leaking problem, got me into a new pouching system, that is awesome and when I ran out of samples and am in limbo with my supply company in getting the new pouches and other supplies, she set me up with a holdover supply, so that my stoma won’t be continuously injured by my current pouches.- Susan Gentner

I’m thankful for all of the WOCNs I have been to. Some I’ve known for many years. They are very knowledgeable and helpful with various products.I also want to give a shoutout to our great WOCNs at 11 Health & Technologies for being amazing for our team and patients. ? –Megan Alloway

Amazing Aimee Frisch. The best WOCN in know. Love you. -John Pederson

Happy ‪#WOCNurseWeek2021! What you do for ostomy patients and the impact you make is immeasurable!  Plus we are grateful for all that you do to support UOAA and our advocacy program! You are advocates for patients and can influence change. Shine on! @UOAA_Advocate -Jeanine Gleba