WOCN-St. Louis Affiliate Meeting Minutes
6/01/2004

Members Present: Robin Edelman, Linda, Stamm, Marge Groom, Pat Donald, Betty Godar, Sheila Kramer, Linda Newberry, Violet Brownell, Christine Heady, Beth Brueggemann, Gwen McComy, Audrey Moyer, Mary Anne Douglas, Kelly Weigel, Diane Economon, Lyn Kramer, Laurie Klipfel, Marsha McGuire, Nancy Taxman, Dolores Drury, Kathy Maheo, Judy Schaffer, Jackie Bangert, Betsy Naeger

Treasurer’s Report: Savings $16,397.38, checking $3,793.10, totaling $20,190.48.

Communications: National Conference is 6/5-9. WOCN has offered a Certification Exam Review Course, Leadership Development Workshop, Foot/Nail Workshop, Wound Debridement Workshop, and a Professional Growth Workshop this year at conference in addition to all the wound, ostomy and continence presentations. Marge Groom of Belleville will be presenting at national conference on the Remody Line from Medline.

Nursing Stats (FYI): There are nearly 2.7 million registered nurses in the U.S. As of November 2001, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that one million more nurses will be needed by 2010. There are over 196,000 advanced practice nurses in the U. S. Approximately 88,100 are nurse practitioners, 54,300 are clinical nurse specialists, 14,600 are both nurse practitioners and clinical specialists, 9,200 are nurse midwives and 29,800 are nurse anesthetists. In a 2001 CNN/USA Today Gallup Poll, nurses were ranked second to firefighters for their honesty and integrity with 84% of Americans rating them "high" or "very high". According to a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, hospitals with more registered nurses on staff and higher ratios of nurse to patients had 6.3 fewer deaths per 1,000 patients than hospitals that did not have those characteristics.

Future Educational Meetings:

  • Wound Assessment & Management, MO League of Nursing – Joyce Hayes-Berkowitz, RN, BSN, MPH, CIC (6 contact hours)
  • 6/03/04 St. Joseph, Glore Psychiatric Museum
  • 6/04/04 Kansas City (Lee’s Summit) John Knox Village
  • 36th Annual WOCN Conference, Tampa FL 6/5-9
  • WOCN-St. Louis Affiliate Meetings
  • 8/3/04 meeting will be sponsored by Healthpoint – Madalaine Daniel

Marketing Committee: Judy Schaffer has been in touch with The Missouri League for Nursing (MLN). We have agreed to co-sponsor educational meetings with them. This will involve 5 hour programs on wound care at 8 different locations throughout Missouri in the Spring, 2005. Dates are being decided now. Workshops will be provided in cities like St. Joseph, Kansas City, Springfield, St. Louis. Once the schedule is settled, members will be notified. Speakers (3 per workshop) will be needed. Speakers will vary so interested CWOCN’s should contact Judy Schaffer (636-532-7796). The content will be the same for all workshops. Presentations will be completed ahead of time by the Marketing Committee. Sheila Kramer has sent a letter to the vendors to recruit sponsorship and financial support. WOCN-St. Louis Affiliate will also have a booth. The MLN meetings have been well attended in the past.

UOA Report: The UOA Product Fair was 5/3 at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center and was well attended. This is the local UOA’s big fundraiser and they raised over $1,700.00. Thanks to all who helped out and attended this years’ fair.

New Products: Sheila Kramer showed products from RCS Company (www.rcscompany.com) Phone # 419-358-8003, email rcs@wcoil.com. They have several products.

  • The Handy Ring – a non-adhesive ring to fit around a stoma when adhesive faceplates won’t work. You can snap a 2-piece pouch from Hollister or Convatec (Centerpoint Lock or Natura) to this system. It is held on with a belt.
  • A Cup with belt taps that is placed over the stoma for showering.

WOCN Positions:

  • Unity Home Care is looking for a WOCN in a consulting position, not a case manager (call Sharon Waldmann if interested).
  • Barnes/Jewish hired Linda Newberry. She will attend WOC school in the Fall. Welcome Linda!
  • DePaul – Jackie Bangert is retiring, but will moonlight so please contact her if a CWOCN is needed to fill in. She has hired her replacement.

Special thanks to Support Surfaces for sponsoring the dinner/presentation/meeting.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Betsy Naeger, RN, CWOCN