Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing Care

nurse dressing wound

How We Help

Our WOC nurse cares for patients with colostomies, conventional and continent ileostomies, urostomies, and fistulas. While the WOC nurse does not function as a patient’s primary nurse, she aims to help ensure a smooth recovery and get you back to your normal daily life as quickly as possible. Glacial Ridge Health System’s WOCN is specially trained and devoted to helping patients overcome initial anxiety or insecurity they may feel.

Kara Mrnak, Glacial Ridge Health System’s WOCN, is board-certified in wound, ostomy, and continence care. She stays up-to-date on the latest equipment and treatment programs and quickly makes such innovations available to patients.

We encourage you to consult your doctor or WOC nurse for any wound, ostomy, or continence changes. It is important to have periodic check-ups to ensure you receive the best possible care and have the most comfortable and latest advances in supplies for optimal results.

Insurance Coverage

Many medical insurers cover outpatient wound, ostomy, and continence nursing services. Check with your insurer to find out about your specific coverage.

Wound Care

To relieve pain and speed healing, our nurse assists the medical staff in the development of a comprehensive care plan that includes evaluation and treatment of existing or reoccurring wounds, as well as education about how to prevent future wounds.

  • Assessment of origination factors, wound status, and nutritional status
  • Recommendations regarding correction of factors causing the wound
  • Compression therapy for patients with venous ulcers
  • Recommendations for basic nutritional support for wound healing
  • Patient, family, and caregiver education
  • Removal of dead tissue
  • Percutaneous tube management, including conversion and stabilization innovations

Ostomy (Urinary or Fecal Diversion)

We help patients learn to lead very normal lives with temporary and permanent ostomies of all kinds.

  • Pre-operative counseling
  • Outpatient consultation, exams, and services with ostomy patients
  • Assessment of stomal function, pouching system, stomal and peristomal skin status, and patient’s self-care and adaptation status
  • Recommendations regarding ostomy care/management, peristomal skin care, and prevention/management of peristomal/stomal complications
  • Patients and family education for incorporation of ostomy into lifestyle/daily living
  • Supportive counseling to support adaptation

Continence Care

We can help patients with skincare and odor management by helping to identify the best collection or absorption device and skin care products and will instruct patients in their proper use.

  • Nursing assessment of urinary or fecal incontinence
  • Dietary and fluid management
  • Environmental and clothing modifications
  • Bladder retraining programs
  • Instruction in scheduled voiding
  • Instruction in pelvic muscle exercises
  • Instruction in clean intermittent catheterization
  • Recommendations regarding containment and/or absorptive products and skin care
  • Simple urodynamics

To schedule an appointment, call Glacial Ridge Health System at 320.634.4521.

Web WOCN Page GRHS staff e1713369711401
Kara Mrnak, RN, BSN, CWOCN

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