In This Issue of JWOCN

This issue of the Journal contains 3 articles that emphasize the heart of WOC nursing: caring for the patient with an ostomy. Your Ostomy Section opens with 2 Position Statements on Stoma Site Marking. The first is a joint statement from the WOCN Society and American Society of Colorectal Surgeons that provides standards for stoma site marking in patients undergoing creation of a fecal ostomy. The second is a similar statement from the WOCN Society and the American Urological Association that provides standards for stoma site marking in patients undergoing urostomies. Each of these documents is a must read for every WOC nurse involved in caring for patients with ostomies, and each should be liberally shared with colleagues who care for these complex patients.

In addition to these important position papers, Cristina Coca, Ignacio Fernandez de Larrinoa, Raquel Serrano, and Helena Garcia-Llana report findings from a study evaluating the impact of specialty practice ostomy nurses on patients being cared for in an acute care setting. You will want to read this landmark article that provides the most comprehensive evidence to date supporting the essential role specialty practice ostomy nurses create when managing patients with newly created stomas. Berrin Pazar, Ayla Yava, and Seref Basal report results of a study measuring health-related quality of life in persons with a urostomy. This article also qualifies as must read for every WOC nurse involved in providing care to patients living with a urostomy, regardless of care setting.

This issue's Wound Care Section opens with a research report authored by Barbara Delmore, Sarah Lebovits, Barbara Suggs, Linda Rolnitzky, and Elizabeth Ayello that evaluates risk factors for development of heel pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients. This article is a must-read for every WOC nurse tasked with prevention of pressure ulcers on this uniquely challenging body surface. Megan Anderson, Patricia Finch Guthrie, Wendy Kraf, Patty Reicks, Carol Skay, and Alan Beal describe a study that evaluated the effect of a universal pressure ulcer prevention bundle that included twice weekly WOC nursing rounds. You will want to read this cogent and timely study to determine whether this approach should be incorporated into your facility's pressure ulcer prevention program. Shishir Shah and Debashis Chakravarthy report a case series of patients with nonhealing wounds managed by bovine 100% native collagen. You will want to read this clinically relevant case series to determine potential indications for this intervention in your patient population.

Marilyn Murphy Shepherd, Deidre Wipke-Tevis, and Gregory L. Alexander compare the influence of information technologies in 2 long-term care facilities. You will want to read this innovative analysis to increase your knowledge of the influence of information technologies on clinician knowledge and practice relevant to pressure prevention.

This issue's Continence Care section, prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections remains a hot topic undergoing considerable scrutiny in the acute and critical care settings. Gale Danek, Nikolaus Gravenstein, David Lizdas, and Samsun Lampotang report results of a study measuring the prevalence and configuration of urine trapped in dependent loops of drainage systems in patients with indwelling urinary catheters. You will want to read this well-designed study that seeks evidence underlying a popular but unproven intervention for prevention of urinary tract infections in catheterized patients. Finally, Mary Ann Sammon, Mary Montague, Fran Frame, Deborah Guzman, James Bena, Ann Palascak and Nancy Albert present a must-read randomized controlled study of the effects of two fecal management systems on the incidence of anal erosion.

Are you an advanced practice nurse (APN)? If so, have your considered updating your certification to the APN level? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you will want to read this issue's Getting Ready for Certification, authored by Cathryn Remainis, who discusses the 7 domains of advanced practice nursing and their application to the WOCNCB examinations for the APN.

This issue's Challenges in Practice addresses an ongoing issue in WOC practice: which wound care dressings and related products can be safely used in neonates. Deanne August reports a case of a silver-based dressing used in a very low-birth-weight infant with extensive epidermal stripping. You will want to read this article and consider whether a similar approach may have relevance to your practice.