PI65: SUPPORTING THE TRANSITION TO WOC NURSING PRACTICE THROUGH MENTORING

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

6-1-2023

Publication Title

J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs

Abstract

TOPIC/SIGNIFICANCE TO PRACTICE: The WOC nursing field has both a number of experienced nurses, with some approaching retirement, and nurses who have recently completed WOC nursing education programs. A mentoring program in which experienced WOC nurses provide guidance to those who are new to the specialty can strengthen their professional development and facilitate their integration into practice. At a large teaching hospital in the Midwest, a group mentoring program was developed to support two registered nurses, as they transitioned from bedside nursing to WOC nursing.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: The objectives for the program were to: (1) foster relationships between newly certified WOC nurses and experienced WOC nurses and (2) provide guidance regarding the professional practice roles of the WOC nurse.

PROCESS/REPLICATION: The new nurses had a strong clinical foundation and passion for WOC nursing; however, they had specific questions about the WOC nurse role as it related to professional practice topics. Mentoring Up Theory provided a framework for the mentoring program. The mentor and mentees created a list of 10 professional practice topics, including product evaluations and productivity tracking. The topics were covered in weekly 30-minute sessions, using both in-person and virtual meeting platforms. The sessions were designed to provide content, resources, an opportunity to ask questions, and discuss implementation of these concepts into practice.

OUTCOMES: The sessions were well attended. Half of the sessions were completed with a virtual platform and half were completed in person. A postimplementation survey reported increased confidence (100% agree on Likert type scale) in conducting a product trial, interprofessional collaboration, and starting a process improvement project. Additionally, the respondents agree or strongly agree that participating in the mentoring sessions had a positive impact on their professional WOC nursing practice.

Volume

50

Issue

3

First Page

S46

Find It @ Sladen

Share

COinS