Welcome to MARWOCN.org, the website of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society. We are one of the 11 regions located throughout the United States and we come together as a nursing specialty that focuses on the care of individuals with wounds, ostomies and incontinence. The Mid-Atlantic Region encompasses Virginia , Maryland , the District of Columbia and Delaware .

Within this web space, it is our intent to share with you who we are, what we do, and to impart a sense of our rich nursing history to you. We have an established tradition within our region of dedication and commitment to quality care. As a region, this is a time of change for us all as we meet the challenges of the future. We are in the midst of conference planning for our fall meeting in Williamsburg , Virginia November 13-15, 2008. Excitement is mounting about new opportunities for growth on our website, and creating a more meaningful tool for communication. We are committed to excellence in Nursing and WOCN nursing care and will work to educate and promote the organizational goals as set forth in the by-laws.

I would ask that each of us think about how we relate to this organization, the way that it functions for each of us and for the individuals we take care of. How can this organization be meaningful to us in our everyday practice?

If you are a person with a wound, ostomy or incontinence, we encourage you to seek out a WOC Nurse. You have a right to the specialized care that we can offer to you.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns or issues that you feel strongly about. Thank you once again for your commitment to helping those in need with wound/ostomy/continence issue.

Membership

Thank you to you the membership for enthusasium and attendance at our MARWOCN Conference last Fall, 2007. It was a pleasure to work with committee members to bring you a great conference. This year we are looking forward to bringing the same leadership, skills, and tools at you conference to enhance your practice and make this conference a worthwhile endeavor for all attendees. As previously stated my commitment as well as the Board's is to continue to our MAR WOCN members into the future with evidenced based practices, financial stability, and a solid strategic plan for our organizations future. We continue to refine and evaluate our own facilities and communities for budding WOC nurses who will maintain our mission, vision, and carry our organization well into the future. I am excited, delighted, and most of all deeply committed to this organization and its well being.

Board members and I will continue to work to bring the membership an informative, interesting, pertinent conference this November in Williamsburg 2008 as well. We are keeping our eye on the future with the next conference being hosted by the DC Affiliate. Please look to future with us! I look forward to serving you all and providing a united, well represented Board of peers who will echo your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to broaden the horizons of the MAR WOCN!

Respectfully,

Lidia Garner MS RN CWCN COCN