In this episode of WOCTalk, Jen Rowe, Kelsey Swiss, and Melanie Vinette share how their dynamic wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nursing team delivers patient-centered care. They discuss team collaboration, weekend coverage, and working alongside a nurse practitioner and surgeon. Hear about their innovative programs—outpatient ostomy support, new nurse academies, pressure injury analysis, and hands-on student education—as well as strategies for implementing new products, improving workflow, and fostering continuous learning and mentorship.
Whether you’re a seasoned WOC nurse or just starting out, this episode highlights the creativity, collaboration, and dedication behind impactful patient care.
About the Speakers:
Jennifer Rowe, BSN, RN, CWON, Kelsey Swiss, BSN, RN, CWOCN, and Melanie Vinette, BSN, RN, CWON, CMSRN, are part of a six-member WOC nursing team dedicated to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care. Their work spans inpatient and outpatient settings, including an outpatient ostomy clinic and a monthly ostomy support group. The team collaborates closely with colorectal surgeons, general surgeons, and surgical nurse practitioners to coordinate care, provide preoperative education, and mark stomas.
Education is a core focus for their team, delivered through on-the-floor real-time teaching, Med-Surg and NICU academies, shadow experiences with student nurses and new hires, and a nursing assistant academy. They also participate in the hospital’s value analysis committee, introducing new products and implementing cost-effective strategies while ensuring the highest quality of patient care. Their approach emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and mentorship to support both patients and the next generation of nurses.
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant