In This Issue of JWOCN

Every WOC nurse knows that ensuring adequate nutritional support is an essential component of chronic wound care, but comparatively less is known about assessing patients for micro nutritional deficits and correcting these deficits. The CE feature of this issue of the Journal, authored by M. V. Kaminski, J. J. Drinane, and Daniel Kruzel, discusses oral and cutaneous signs of micronutrient nutritional deficits including essential fat and water-soluble vitamins. This unique article qualifies as must read for any WOC nurse or wound care specialist who manages patients with chronic wounds. I also suggest you go online at http://www.jwocnonline.com and complete the accompanying CE.

Teresa J. Kelechi, Martina Mueller, Cam Spencer, Bobbie Rinard, and Greg Loftis report results of a study that compared a nurse-driven intervention to reduce pain and improve physical outcomes in patients with leg ulcers. You will want to read this well-designed and clinically relevant study to determine whether and how you can adopt findings from this study to your care of patients with critically colonized, infected, and painful lower extremity ulcers.

Nancy Beinlich and Anita Meehan describe a nurse-initiated program to eliminate hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. You will want to read this article to gain insight into the strategies they use to prevent facility-acquired pressure ulcers, including their approach to identifying and removing barriers to this persistent challenge for all hospital-based WOC nurses.

Julie Wellborn and Joane Moceri report results of a phenomenological study focusing on the lived experiences of persons with chronic venous insufficiency and current or past venous leg ulcers. You will want to read this clinically relevant study to gain greater knowledge of daily factors patients must overcome or learn to cope with because of their chronic venous insufficiency.

This issue's Wound Care Section closes with a View From Here from Dawn Carson, who describes her experiences with the process of developing a product and applying for a patent. The information in this specialty feature of the Journal qualifies as a must read for any WOC nurse contemplating, developing, or introducing a novel product for patients with wounds, ostomies, or continence disorders.

In this issue's Ostomy Care Section Joy Pittman (Wound Care Section Editor), Tamilyn Bakas, Marsha Ellett, Rebecca Sloan, and Susan Rawl report a thorough and meticulous psychometric evaluation of an emerging instrument for patients with ostomies, the Ostomy Complication Severity Index. You will want to read this well-designed and well-written research report to understand the validity and reliability of this clinically relevant instrument. You may also want to read this article to gain invaluable insights into the research processes used to psychometrically evaluate any instrument used in WOC nursing practice.

This issue's Continence Section opens with a research report authored by Kyung Hee Park and Keum Soon Kim that evaluates the effects of a structured skin care regimen in critically ill patients with fecal incontinence. You will want to read this valuable study to compare outcomes using a structured skin care regimen on pressure ulcer and incontinence-associated dermatitis as compared to outcomes with a traditional skin care regimen.

Daniel Young and Debashish Chakravarthy report results of a study that compared human skin reactions to application of 4 commercially available topical skin creams. While most WOC nurses accept the principle that a structured skin care regimen should address 3 essential elements (cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting exposed skin) most would also agree that our knowledge about the performance of moisturizing products is less complete than evidence focusing on the performance of various cleansers and skin protectants. You will want to read this article to improve you knowledge of the effect of 4 topical skin creams containing various moisturizing products on human skin capacitance.

This issue features 2 Clinical Challenge feature articles. The first, authored by Mary Hopper and Sue Morgan, describes an ongoing quality improvement program resulting in a sustained and clinically relevant reduction in hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. In the second Challenges in Practice article, authors Amy Jeffers, Pamela Maxson, Susan Thompson, Heather McCormack and Robert Cima describe combination therapy incorporating noncontact low-frequency ultrasound and negative pressure wound therapy for treatment of open abdominal wounds. You will want to read both articles to see how the authors incorporate critical thinking skills with their clinical expertise to achieve cutting-edge clinical practice.

Lea Crestodina, Andrea Montgomery-Kiley, and Kay Durkop-Scott authored this issue's Getting Ready for Certification feature. It focuses on the importance of knowing common wound terminology as you prepare for certification in this essential area of WOC nursing.