On this episode of WOCTalk we’re joined by Olivia Payton, WOC Care Department Supervisor at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital. She shared how she transformed routine staff training into “The Boo Boo House,” an annual Halloween-themed educational event featuring over 20 interactive stations. Discover how pouching pumpkin skeletons, staging painted pumpkins, and a “Rest in Peace Briefs” graveyard helped drive reductions in pressure injury rates and moisture-associated skin damage. Olivia gives practical strategies for meeting busy floor staff where they are, starting small, partnering with vendor reps, and using playful learning to bridge documentation and practice gaps to boost hospital morale and elevate patient care.
About the Speaker:
Olivia Payton, BSN, RN, CWOCN, has a nursing career driven by a passion for wound, ostomy, and continence care and a commitment to improving patient outcomes through compassionate, evidence-based practice. Payton graduated from Piedmont Virginia Community College in 2014 and later earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from James Madison University in 2018.
Payton’s interest in wound care began during her nursing school clinical rotations, where she was inspired by the Wound Care Team at the University of Virginia Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH). After graduation, she joined the LTACH team, gaining valuable experience caring for patients with complex wounds and medical needs. She then transitioned to an Internal Medicine practice, where she worked alongside a geriatrician for two and a half years. During this time, Payton completed her BSN while continuing to develop her passion for wound care and the unique challenges faced by aging populations.
Payton later worked in a Vascular Surgery clinic for two years, performing wound care and assisting with in-office surgical procedures. This experience further strengthened her clinical skills and reinforced her desire to specialize in wound management. When an opportunity became available to join the hospital’s Wound, Ostomy, and Continence program, Payton embraced it despite being six and a half months pregnant at the time. It was a pivotal career decision that reflected my dedication to the specialty she loves.
Since then, Payton has earned her Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse (CWOCN) certification and has been providing specialized care in the acute care setting. At the time of this recording, Payton serves as the Supervisor of the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Department, where she has the privilege of leading a talented team while advancing quality patient care, staff education, and evidence-based practice initiatives. WOC nursing is more than a profession for Payton; it is a lifelong passion. She is deeply committed to improving the lives of patients through prevention, treatment, education, and advocacy. Payton finds great fulfillment in supporting patients and caregivers through some of their most challenging healthcare experiences and in empowering nursing teams to deliver the highest standard of specialized care.
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.