WOCN’s Going to Germany

Regional WOCN’s will wrap up their summer by visiting Germany in mid September. Ten WOCN’s from the Baltimore Affiliate in the Mid Atlantic Region and the South Central PA Affiliate in the North East Region responded to an invitation from Mr. Edgar Reisch, Chairman of the Nursing Department at Heidelberg University in Germany to participate in a Wound Care Symposium. From September 9 to the 17th the group will visit specialty departments of Heidelberg Hospital, participate in joint lectures with the hospital staff and enjoy good food and sightseeing.

Participants include Mid Atlantic president Lidia Garner. Also attending from the Baltimore Affiliate are, Lou Ann Rau, affiliate chairman, Harriet Pilert, Brenda Hensley Paula Murphy, and Phyllis Keys. Representing the South Central PA Affiliate are Lynn DeMartyn, affiliate president, Cynthia Keith, Leslie Wilson, and Phyllis Green.

Germany Update

Area WOCN's from the Baltimore Affiliate were among ten nurses from MD and PA who recently visited Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany and the surrounding area for a week. Lidia Garner, Lou Ann Rau, Harriet Pilert, Brenda Hensley, Paula Murphy, Phyllis Keys, and Phyllis Green enjoyed learning about differences in German culture and medical care. A highlight of the trip was a joint Wound Care Symposium, led by Birgit Trierweiler-Hauke, wound care specialist in the surgical clinic at Heidelberg University. Lou Ann and Brenda presented a lecture on "Preparing the Wound for Healing" that was translated into German for the 85 attendees.

Ms. Cecile Windisch, a friend of Phyllis', organized the trip. Cozy accomodations complete with German style bathrooms and bedding were provided in the International Guest House for doctors and nurses. Hearty meals including an
afternoon coffee with German desserts and a delightful dinner at the Restaurant Olive, were enjoyed by all. We quickly learned to specify water with gas (Seltzer Water) or without and realized that the light coke is regular coke mixed with gas water, not diet coke. We were impressed with the scores of people riding bicycles, and with how the Germans conserve their resources.

Our hosts greeted us warmly, starting with a "Meet and Greet" led by Mr. Edgar Reisch, Senior Director of Nursing. Our agenda included lively interactions with hospital staff, tours of the many clinics on the University campus,educational lectures from University faculty, and a meeting with faculty and students at the Nursing Academy. We were guests at the surgical grand rounds where the program was graciously done in English so that we could understand it. We found some variances in medical care compared to ours, but we found more similarities than differences as they also cope with staffing issues, and medical staff who are not knowledgeable about wound care. Lidia Garner, Mid Atlantic Region President, proudly presented Mr. Reisch with the WOCN wound care guideline series for their Medical Library.

Heidelberg is a picturesque city with scenic mountains and river, and an old castle. We explored the area by bus, streetcar, train and boat. We wrapped up our week with a day trip by train to Rothenberg, the oldest city in Germany, led by Ursula Reinhart, delightful mother of Cecile. The night before our departure home we celebrated with a farewell dinner at an authentic German restaurant, Zum Goldenen Lowen, in Eppelheim. After dinner, Cecile and her family invited us to their home for a champagne toast and we noticed that our compassion fatigue was gone.

We made many international friends during our stay and we are working toward reciprocating with an exchange to the USA next year. Our thoughtful hosts presented us with many nice gifts and we will wear our Heidelberg University shirts with pride.