Nurse Driven Skin Tear Protocol in Long-Term Care

On this episode of WOCTalk, we talk with Holly Hovan, MSN, APRN, GERO-BC, CWOCN-AP, presenting author of the poster titled, “Implementing and Sustaining a Nurse Driven Skin Tear Protocol in Long-Term Care” presented at WOCNext® 2022. Holly shares insights about this nurse-led protocol to prevent and treat skin tears. Episode Resources:View the abstract for the poster “Implementing and Sustaining a Nurse Driven Skin Tear Protocol in Long-Term Care” or view the interactive ePosterView all accepted abstracts and ePosters from WOCNext 2022Learn more about the Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) Program About the Speaker:Holly Hovan is an advanced practice wound, ostomy, and continence nurse at the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System in Cleveland, OH. Holly specializes in caring for our older adult/geriatric population with WOC needs. She has been an RN for nearly 15 years and an APRN for 10 years, with all years of APRN practice being in WOC nursing. A large majority of her time in healthcare has been spent caring for older adults and in academia as a clinical and lab instructor for nursing students. Holly enjoys education, program development, and inspiring and educating others to expand their knowledge and practice. Holly brought the WOCN® Society's Wound Treatment Association (WTA) Program to her healthcare facility in July of 2020 and has served as the clinical instructor and course coordinator since its inception. Currently, approximately 80 nurses have completed the program with over 40 earning board the WTA-C® certification, and more to come. Practicing mostly in long-term and skilled nursing care, Holly has seen and treated many skin tears given the changes that occur with the skin as we age. She saw a need for nurse-driven protocol related to skin tears in her facility and was able to implement this with the support of leadership. It has been a success for the past 4½ years and has been expanded to other areas of the healthcare system due to the success and sustainability.