Origin Story
Many years ago, we met while working as registered nurses at a home health agency in Northern California. As co-workers, we frequently found ourselves in the field without adequate guidance or support for homebound patients with complex wounds and ostomies. In an effort to address this concern, we developed a collaborative relationship since our agency did not have a CWON (Certified Wound and Ostomy Nurse) on staff. With the help of the Internet and a lot of trial and error, we were able to develop a rudimentary wound and ostomy skill set. As our skills improved, our interest grew, and we eventually took the plunge to become certified through the Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing Society, the only wound and ostomy certifying organization recognized by the BRN (Board of Registered Nursing).
After passing our board exams, we quickly became our agency’s primary resources for wound and ostomy care and advice. As CWONs, we were now able to consult with other field nurses trying to manage challenging wound and ostomy patients. With our new level of expertise, our patient outcomes improved drastically and our agency’s positive reputation grew. Word spread quickly that we were the only agency in our region to employ 2 full-time wound nurses, and within a year, our patient census doubled.
Our agency thrived, but it became apparent that the majority of field nurses outside our agency still did not have access to the knowledge and expertise of a CWON. We noticed an increase in the number of patients transferred to our agency due to dissatisfaction with previous care. Many of these patients had mismanaged wounds and ostomies and we became frustrated by the amount of needless suffering we were witnessing. Often, we commented that if a nurse had been able to send us a photo or video of the issue when it first began, we could have significantly shortened the patient’s recovery period.
Our inspiration for “The Wound Nurses” was born out of our desire to make the services of CWONs more available so that all patients can receive the best possible wound and ostomy care. With recent Medicare guidelines mandating one CWON for every 50 hospitalized patients, most CWONs are now working in hospital settings. Unfortunately, this has left clinics, nursing facilities, and home health agencies without this much-needed resource. Even when CWONs are available to fill positions, the cost is often prohibitive due to their specialized training. Many agencies and facilities simply don’t have the budget to hire a full-time wound nurse, especially when they may only need sporadic consultations.
Our goal in creating “The Wound Nurses” is to bridge the care gap, providing expert wound and ostomy advice to medical professionals caring for patients with complex needs. Through our user-friendly services, we aim to make the process of consulting with a CWON convenient, accessible and affordable. We look forward to supporting your staff and helping your organization improve patient outcomes.
