Behind the WOC/ET nursing, there are determined and dedicated individuals who were to improve patient care. Rupert Tumbull, a pioneer in colorectal surgery, and Norma Gill, a former ilestomy patient of Tumbull, are the two individuals behind the foundation of WOC/ET nursing. The two established the first enterostomal therapy training program after Tumbull learned that Gill was giving care to stoma patients in her hometown in Ohio. In 1968, the training program churned out 12 of the first graduates. At the suggestion of Tumbull, the 14 met and formed the North American Association of Enterostomal Therapists which would later come to be known as the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society. The Society has since then churned more and more graduates accounting for more than a fifth of WOC nurse specialists practicing around the world (Dorothy, 2013).
At the time of the establishment of the society, there was very little published information and textbooks. This, however, did not deter the students who embarked on reviewing papers that had been written and to observe and record their observations for analysis to come up with the best method of ostomy management hence provide best solutions to the patients (WOCN, n.d.). In 1976, the ET was converted to a nursing role based on the vote by the International Association of Entrostomal Therapists. In the early 1980s, the scope of practice was expanded which brought about a lot of debate in the healthcare industry which led to the review of most curriculum and programs to include material that contained continence and wound care (Cleveland Clinic, n.d). The changes made in the curriculum blue print of the Nursing Education programs as well as the revision of the admission requirements led to an expansion of worldwide education with assistance accorded to a country that seeks to develop such a program.
References
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Wound Ostomy Continence School of Nursing. Retrieved 13th January, 2016, from http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/nursing-institute/wound-ostomy-continence-school
Dorothy, D. (2013). History of WOC (ET) nursing education. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing April, Volume: 40, 127- 129.
WOCN. (n.d.). The History of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN). Retrieved 13th January, 2016, from http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.wocn.org/resource/resmgr/history_of_wocn.pdf
