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By Cindy Broadus, RN, BSHA, LNHA, CLNC, CLNI, CHCRM, WCC, DWC, OMS
WOW! WOW! WOW! That sums up the feeling generated at the 12th Annual Wild on Wounds Conference, held September 2-5 in Las Vegas. What an exciting 4 days! With more than 1,100 attendees, the conference was busy, bustling, and full of nonstop activity. Sessions were available for all levels of clinicians, from beginners to advanced, and were based on 2014 participant feedback. This year, we added something new: Clinicians could watch webinars in a dedicated room and obtain continuing education credit. We received a great deal of positive feedback about the different learning options.
Once again, NAWCO had a question/answer area set up in the middle of the action. I’d like to thank our board of directors and certification committee members for volunteering their time to staff the area and answer inquiries from attendees.
Each year NAWCO gives three awards to deserving clinicians who go above and beyond the daily routine to provide exceptional care to their patients with wounds. It’s such a rewarding experience for the awards committee to receive and read the many nominations. As always, there were many outstanding submissions, but only three could be chosen, making the selection process difficult.
In the previous issue, I reintroduced all of the award winners since the inception of the awards program in 2007 through 2014. The 2015 winners were announced and recognized during the closing session, titled “Pay it Forward.” Board of directors President Debbie Dvorachek and Vice President Katie Pieper presented the awards to the winners.
Here are just some of the impressive comments that were made about the award winners.
Outstanding Work in Diabetic Wounds: Margarita Joni Rose Villar, BSN, RN, WCC
- “Consistently displays high ethical standards and maintains integrity with patients as well as hospital staff.”
- “Volunteers to see clinic patients, educates staff on total contact casting and its effects on healing the diabetic wound.”
- “Recruits/mentors other wound care professionals in the prevention and treatment of diabetic wounds.”
Outstanding Research in Wound Care: Candice Curtin, BSN, RN, WCC, DWC, OMS
- “Presented a poster at the 2015 VNAA (Visiting Nurse Associations of America) conference.”
- “Received first-place poster award for a case study series done on Diabetic Foot Ulcer Management at the Desert Foot Podiatry Conference in 2012.”
- Working on validating a pressure ulcer staging tool that will help clinicians stage appropriately.”
Outstanding WCC of the Year: Marissa Richardson, RN, CRRN, WCC
- “Provides the leadership role with wounds in the HealthSouth hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
- “Able to articulate proper technique at all levels of licensure.”
- “Provides wound care training and conducts one-on-one education with patients on how to take care of their wounds at home after discharge.”
NAWCO is proud and honored to have been able to recognize the achievements of such a dedicated group of wound care clinicians. All of us at NAWCO congratulate the 2015 Award Winners.
Look for my introductions of the remaining board of director members in the next issue of Wound Care Advisor.
DISCLAIMER: All clinical recommendations are intended to assist with determining the appropriate wound therapy for the patient. Responsibility for final decisions and actions related to care of specific patients shall remain the obligation of the institution, its staff, and the patients’ attending physicians. Nothing in this information shall be deemed to constitute the providing of medical care or the diagnosis of any medical condition. Individuals should contact their healthcare providers for medical-related information.