Please take a few minutes to think about your fellow WOC Nurses or nursing colleagues and submit a nomination for a deserving nurse.
WOC Nurse of the Year Nomination Form
2018
2018 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Zoe Bishop
The 2018 WOC Nurse of the Year is Zoe Bishop. Zoe has been very involved at the local and national level of the WOCN Society. She has been a member of the WOCN National Educational Committee and is the current Chairperson of that committee. She attends local and national conference regularly and has presented multiple posters at the various conferences.
She has been very active at the Iowa Affiliate as well, holding 2 terms as Secretary, has been the Chairperson of the Marketing Committee, and has severed on multiple Fall Conference Committees. She has also assisted with planning and hosting affiliates statewide Ostomy Education day. She has had a strong and positive influence on new members of our organization. She has been a preceptor and mentor for many nursing students and WOC nurses, promoting the WOCN society membership with each. She was also instrumental in developing the mentoring program for the Iowa Affiliate.
In addition to her volunteer work at the local and national levels, she has been involved with the IBD conference each year, by offering her expertise sitting on a discussion panel and manning the ostomy booth, promoting ostomy awareness in the community. She attended and assisted to facilitate the Heart of Iowa Ostomy Support group on a regular basis. She was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Friends of Ostomates Worldwide where she is working on a project to help regions and affiliates organize supply donation campaigns at their organizational meetings.
Although her career has now taken her to Denver Colorado, we felt she deserved this award in recognition for her many years of leadership, mentorship and dedication to the Iowa Affiliate, her patients and WOC nurses she has served across the country. We have the honor of presenting the 2018 WOC Nurse of the Year award to Zoe Bishop.
A small group of us presented this award to her a few weeks ago on a phone conference arranged by her son. We really caught her off guard. Was very humbled by the award, thanked us through the tears and stressed how much WOC nursing is a team effort and said she loves and misses us all.
Congratulations Zoe!
2017
2017 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Joni Boese
Congratulations to Joni Boese from Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Storm Lake, Iowa! Joni is the 2017 recipient of the WOC Nurse of the Year Award which is given annually to recognize an outstanding Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse from the Iowa Affiliate of the WOCN Society. Joni was nominated by her manager who stated she was the first nurse to achieve the ET designation at their facility. She began building the ET clinic services by providing wound and ostomy care on a part-time basis for outpatients, inpatients and homecare. Her services continued grow over the years into what’s now known as the WOC Center for Excellence. Joni has mentored 5 nursing partners who have gone onto achieve their WOC Nursing Certifications with her leadership, mentorship, and support by acting as their preceptor.
One of her recent nursing partners stated, “She presents a wealth of knowledge and expertise from her years of experience as a WOC nurse: I am so fortunate to be able to learn from the best.” Joni’s manager said highly respected, expertise is so widely known and sought after, they received a request to start-up a clinic at a neighboring critical access hospital. She and her partner cover a 45 mile radius seeing WOC patients with an average of 275 visits/consultations each month. She continually works her magic by utilizing resources to ensure all receive the care they need despite ability to pay. Joni has been an active member of the Iowa Affiliate and attends national conferences every other year. She was a 2010 recipient of the 100 Iowa Great Nurses Awards.
Congratulations Joni!
2016
2016 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Bonnie Berkemier
Tammy Dietrich, the WOC Nurse of the Year Committee Chair, could not be with us today, so she us, as a committee members to present this award for her today. I’m Jodie Atkinson and this is Laurie Callan, we are both from Clinton and are members of the committee.
I had a tough time writing this little intro and condensing it down to just a few minutes because this very special WOC nurse was nominated by not just one of her colleagues but by 5 of her colleagues, each submitting a long and glowing application about her and her accomplishments.
This person became a nurse in the 1980’s and worked in various nursing roles for 16 years before expanding into WOC nursing. She has worked in her current position since 2007. One of her nominators wrote, “She is extremely proficient, dedicated, motivated and evidence-based driven while collaborating with the intraprofessional team providing the highest patient care possible.”
She rounds daily on all acute and rehab patients monitoring wound/ostomy issues, as well as, addressing any educational needs they may have. She has worked on and chaired multiple wound and pressure ulcer teams at both the local and state level. She worked to save her organization thousands of dollars through recommendation of mattresses and bed, as well as, skin care products. She has brought in a silver dressing and a fecal management system to the facility. She has worked on designing a thorough wound care and fistula documentation piece for the EMR. She’s developed a skin care protocol for neonatal population. She has worked tirelessly educating new and seasoned staff regarding wound care and pressure ulcer prevention through orientation, residency programs and skills days. She also gives a lecture on the skin and serves as mentor for local nursing students. One nominator wrote, “She loves what she does and it shows in the care she provides, always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude.”
Along with being an exceptional WOC nurse, she shares her time and talent with others through her church and other service organizations. She is a talented seamstress and has sewn dresses for a project which were then sent over seas. Another nominator wrote, “She is continually giving back to her family, community and profession.”
I’m pleased to announce the 2016 Iowa Affiliate WOC Nurse of the Year Award is presented to – Ms. Bonnie Berkemier of Unity Point Health, St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa.
Congratulations Bonnie!
2015
2015 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Jodie Atkinson, RN, BSN, CWON, CFCN
Click here to learn more about Jodie
2014
2014 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Liz Brecht
Click here to learn more about Liz
2013
2013 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Tammy Dietrich
Click here to learn more about Tammy
2012
2012 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Laurie Callan
Click here to learn more about Laurie
2011
2011 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Mary Gloeckner
Click here to learn more about Mary
2010
2010 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Barb Rozenboom
Click here to learn more about Barb
2009
2009 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Jackie Perkins
Click here to learn more about Jackie
2008
2008 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Sue Bruch
2007
2007 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Pat Pezzella
2006
2006 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Laura Phearman
2005
2005 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Linda Banks
2004
2004 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Kim Kopp
2003
2003 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Mary Mahoney
2002
2002 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Lee Ann Krapfl
2001
2001 WOC Nurse of Year Recipient – Beverly Folkedahl