In this edition of the WOCN® Society Member Spotlight, meet Ashlee Fisher, BSN, RN, CWOCN. Learn about her journey into WOC nursing, her passion for bedside care, the patients who shaped her career, and her hopes for advancing ostomy care in her community.
WOC Nursing Journey
Ashlee Fisher entered healthcare early, earning her CNA certification at 18 and working in home health for seven years before becoming an LPN and later an RN. During her home health experience, she discovered her passion for wound and ostomy care. A wound nurse mentor guided her early on, giving her opportunities to learn and grow.
During her hospital rotation, Ashlee was recruited to the Wound Team thanks to her hands-on experience and strong bedside manner. She continued advancing her education, completing her BSN in 2017, obtaining her Wound Treatment Associate certification (WTA-C) in 2019, and then earning her CWOCN certification in 2021.
She has now served on the St. Mary’s Hospital Wound Team for nearly a decade and is proud of how far she has come in the specialty, sharing that she doesn’t regret it at all and has grown tremendously in her 10 years in wound and ostomy care.
Earning her CWOCN certification has opened meaningful doors. She enjoys attending wound conferences, meeting others passionate about the specialty, and continuing to expand her clinical knowledge.
Passion for Healthcare
Ashlee is deeply motivated by helping others, especially older adults. She loves geriatrics and values the meaningful connections formed through bedside care. Supporting patients during vulnerable moments has shaped both her professional and personal growth.
Joining the WOCN Society
Ashlee first joined the WOCN Society for the continuing education credits while working toward her WTA-C. As she advanced in her career, the Society became an essential resource she continues to rely on. “Every time I have a question about anything, I can find the answer within,” she says. For Ashlee, the ongoing education, networking, and access to the JWOCN are among the Society’s greatest benefits. She also appreciates the support she received through scholarship funding for her NP program, which she describes as “so financially helpful.”
Proud Moments and Meaningful Connection
Ashlee is consistently proud to be a WOC nurse. She finds deep fulfillment in healing wounds, supporting patients with life-changing ostomies, and educating new graduates and students. She values being part of a specialty that has such a profound and lasting impact.
Ashlee has made a profound impact on many patients throughout her career, especially those with complex ostomies and peristomal hernias. Helping individuals who once felt hopeless regain confidence through an appliance that finally works is one of the most rewarding parts of her role. She also gives back through her nurse-run UOAA support group, creating a welcoming space where ostomates and their families can feel supported and understood.
Just as she has changed the lives of her patients, many have left a lasting mark on her. One patient in particular—a young woman with Cerebral palsy she cared for as a CNA—played a pivotal role in shaping her career. Ashlee became close with the patient and her family over seven years, even continuing to help them after becoming an LPN. The family attended all her nursing graduations, and losing the patient at a young age was heartbreaking. Their connection continues today, and Ashlee shares that the patient “will always hold a special place in my heart.”
These moments—lifting others up while being shaped by their strength—continue to guide her dedication to compassionate, patient-centered care.
How Her Journey Shapes Her Approach to Care
Ashlee has learned the importance of patience, persistence, and staying current. She believes in taking time with each patient, seeking answers, never giving up on finding the right appliances or wound care solutions, and recognizing the difference WOC nurses can make through dedication and continuous learning.
Looking Ahead
Ashlee is currently pursuing her nurse practitioner degree and aims to become an advanced practice CWOCN. She hopes to address a major gap in her community: comprehensive, accessible ostomy care and supply guidance. Her goal is to provide mid-level expertise that helps ostomates thrive.
Where Passion Meets Purpose
Ashlee founded her local ostomy support group and continues to volunteer her time to research topics, secure speakers, and lead group discussions. She also collects unused ostomy supplies from patients who no longer need them and redistributes them to individuals without insurance or those experiencing financial hardship.
Life Beyond Nursing
Ashlee’s 16-year-old daughter is one of her greatest motivators and a constant reminder of why she works hard: to be a strong role model. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, camping, hot yoga, and reading with my book club.
Words of Wisdom
Ashlee encourages aspiring nurses to enter the profession for the right reasons: “Nursing is the most rewarding career, but it comes with burnout and stressors. If you have a heart to make a change and help others, you should pursue it… It’s all about the heart.”
Thank you, Ashlee
Ashlee’s work—supporting patients through life-changing ostomies, mentoring new nurses, and founding a local ostomy support group—shows the compassion, expertise, and heart that define WOC nursing.
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