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. We are extremely proud of our new addition to our affiliate family the Blue Ridge Affiliate which includes: Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Waynsborough area of VA. Congratulations to the Blue Ridge Affiliate and welcome into the MARWOCN!!
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. The 2010 annual conference proves to be another excellent opportunity for our regional members as well as community healthcare partners to enjoy speakers who will be dynamic, engaging and educational! This years conference is titled “Riding the Rapids into a New Decade of Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing!” The conference will be held in Richmond, Virginia this October 29 & 30, 2010. We pride ourselves on hosting the “premier” educational event of the season in this area and once again, we’ve assembled a list of international and local speakers who will address topics on wounds, ostomies and continence. Our program has been planned to appeal to not only our regional members but to other health care specialists such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists, as well as urology, dermatology, home care, long term care, rehab and hospice nurses.
Our region enjoys a membership of nearly 230 WOC/ET nurses and other health care professionals from Delaware, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. 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.
This year marks the end of my Presidency as the MARWOCN Region. I can only begin to verbalize the appreciation and gratitude that I feel in serving as the President. And, while I am certain that some things had not gone as planned while I was in office, I can only reiterate that I had all or our best interests and the future of the MARWOCN at heart. I enjoy this membership with all my heart. Seeing all of your smiling faces at conference shows our commitment to each other and our family and community bonds with each other, I know that when I say I can truly call any one of our members and ask for some kind of assistance that the feeling is reciprocated from the membership to all of the Board and your leadership. I will continue to serve for 2 years as the Conference Chair to assist our new President Karen Merson within her Presidency until 2012. We will continue to provide the membership with educational opportunities in the future which are gratifying and relevant. Please feel free to notify me via the MARWOCN website with any questions and 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!!!
Respectfully,
Lidia Garner MS RN CWCN COCN

Respectfully,

Lidia Garner MS RN CWCN COCN