In This Issue of JWOCN

The Journal strives to bring its subscribers must-read articles in every issue, and never more than in this issue, which features the definitive document from the NPUAP's most recent consensus conference focusing on avoidable versus unavoidable pressure ulcers. Authored by Laura Edsberg, Diane Langemo, Mona Mylene Baharestani, Mary Ellen Posthauer, and Margaret Goldberg, this document not only summarizes consensus statements from their recent conference in Baltimore, Maryland, it also provides a state-of-the-science review of current literature concerning pressure ulcer risk factors and their influence on pressure ulcer avoidability.

Susan Achora, Joshua Muliira, and Anita Thanka provide this issue's CE article that discusses strategies to promote healing of split-thickness skin grafts. You will want to read this cogent and comprehensive review of the latest research focusing on well-established and novel techniques for helping our patients ensure a successful split-thickness skin graft. Azize Karahan, Ebru Toruner, Aysun Ceylan, Aysel Abbasoglu, Agah Tekindal, and Lale Buyukgonenc report a validation study of a Turkish language version of the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool. You should read this article to boost your appreciation of the rigors required to translate and validate an existing instrument in another language, as well as original data evaluating the interrater reliability and internal consistency of this valuable clinical tool.

This issue's Wound Care section closes with a randomized controlled trial comparing patients with noninfected acute wounds managed by professional nurses in an ambulatory clinic setting using sterile technique versus self-management after nurse education in the home using clean technique. This article, authored by L. N. Chan and C. K. Y. Lai, qualifies as must read for any clinician interested in the persistent question of clean versus sterile when changing dressings in an acute or chronic wound.

This issue's Ostomy Care section includes the validation of the Ostomy Adjustment Scale in Norwegian written by Kirsten Indrebro, John Andersen, and Gerd Natvig. Similar to the article by Karahan's group, this research report qualifies as must read because it describes validation of an established instrument in a second language, and also because it includes unique data related to the tool's construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability.

This issue's Continence Care section opens with an article describing refinement and further validation of the Incontinence Associated Dermatitis and Its Severity instrument. This article, authored by Donna Bliss, Jennifer Hurlow, Jean Cefalu, Leigh Mahlum, Kathleen Borchert, and Kay Savik qualifies as must read for any WOC nurse interested in the assessment of skin integrity in persons with urinary or fecal incontinence.

Mandy Wells, Katharine Jamieson, Tamsyn Markham, Sue Green, and Mandy Fader report results of a pilot study evaluating the effect of consumption of dietary caffeine on overactive bladder symptoms in women. This article is an essential resource for any clinician interested in the influence of caffeine on lower urinary tract symptoms and urgency in particular, along with the effects of eliminating caffeine from the diet.

Jenny Medley provides a View From Here discussing the cost-effectiveness of a WOC advanced practice (AP) nurse in the acute and ambulatory care settings. Although focused on justification of a WOC-AP position, this article provides valuable background for any WOC nursing seeking to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of her or his practice.

This issue's Getting Ready for Certification feature also focuses on AP nursing. Authors Chris Berke, Leanne Richbourg, Marta Krissovich, and Cathryn Reimanis discuss AP certification examinations in WOC nursing and they provide 3 practice questions focusing on the analysis of laboratory and imaging studies.

This issue's Challenges in Practice feature article, authored by Rebecca Mackintosh, Annette Gwilliam, and Mary Williams, describes an education approach for teaching pressure ulcer staging based on analogies to specific fruits and vegetables. You will want to read this clinically relevant feature article to determine whether your patient's pressure ulcer is an eggplant or a ripe tomato.

Finally, this issue's CAET feature describes the role of ET nurses in the development of an innovative and exciting disease pathway map for managing patients with colorectal cancer. You will want to read this feature for inspiration on how you might initiate or participate in the generation of a similar care map in your facility or community.