Back to Your Nursing Roots: Cultivate the Next Ostomy Specialists

Back to Your Nursing Roots: Cultivate the Next Ostomy Specialists

April 7, 2026 · 45 min · Episode 150

About this episode

The episode discusses the 'Back to Your Nursing Roots' campaign aimed at increasing the number of ostomy-certified nurses through advocacy and outreach.

On this episode of WOCTalk, we sit down with Jeanine Gleba, United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) Director of Advocacy, and Joanna Burgess, WOC nurse and UOAA Advocacy Co-Chair, to discuss the "Back to Your Nursing Roots" campaign, a joint initiative between the WOCN® Society and UOAA. Designed to "plant seeds" of interest in a field where less than 1% of all nurses are ostomy-certified, this program revitalizes professional well-being through advocacy and empathy while providing a turnkey toolkit to make outreach effortless. Listen to discover how returning to your alma mater or a local nursing school helps bridge a critical care gap, how you can earn Personal Growth Program (PGP) points for recertification, and how to secure your place on the "Tree of Fame"—a digital tribute to those ensuring every patient finds the dignity they deserve.

People in this episode

Guests: Jeanine Gleba, Joanna Burgess

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: United Ostomy Associations of America, WOCN Society

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