Acceptance, hope, freedom, peace…those are sentiments you should be capable of feeling if you have an ostomy. More often than not, however, it takes ostomates extended periods of time after their ostomy surgeries to feel these types of positive emotions.
Statistics show that over 70 million Americans struggle with some type of digestive or urinary disease. Every year, 130,000 of those people receive ostomy surgery to cope with their digestive issue. Although ostomy surgeries are not ‘rare’, and people with digestive diseases even less so, it is not something commonly discussed. Unfortunately, many people experience feelings such as stress, fear, anxiety and embarrassment for extended periods of time following their ostomy surgery. Digestive issues are still thought of as ‘taboo’ and it can be difficult for ostomates to find someone to turn to who understands and is willing to talk about it. As well, ostomates should be able to return to their normal day-to-day operations and live their lives to the fullest. To feel comfortable doing this, ostomates should feel free to get the help they need to return to their regular lifestyles.
This is where NSWOCs, or Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence come in. NSWOCs are Registered Nurses that have taken additional training. They are skilled and knowledgeable about the care of those with wounds, ostomies, and continence challenges. They work at hospitals, long-term care facilities and in the community (ie. at a retailer such as Nightingale Medical Supplies). There are many times when NSWOCs can be helpful to you. NSWOCs can answer any questions you might have and improve your comfort and confidence with an ostomy. You deserve a NSWOC because you deserve to live a full and happy life, feeling free and accepted by those around you! And NSWOCs are happy to help you get there.
This week, we celebrate NSWOCs, or Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence. We are privileged at Nightingale to work with a team of kind, caring and knowledgeable NSWOCs. We witness firsthand the positive impact they have on the lives of our customers living with an ostomy.
Adapted from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFCELT_C0N0
