Cath Lab Digest

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Time is a wheel in constant motion, always rolling us along. Tell me, who wants to look back at their years and wonder where have those years gone? — Lee Ann Womack

  Carole Bauer, MSN, ANP-BC, OCN, CWOCN, intends to visit all of the national parks in the US. She already has hiked Isle Royale National Park in Michigan and to the base of the Grand Canyon with her husband, Mark, and son, Ryan. With 28 parks left to cross off her list, Carole isn’t wasting any time making her dream a reality.

   “Probably the most important lesson that comes from working with cancer patients with wound, ostomy, and continence issues is that you should not put off enjoying life for all it is worth, because you don’t know what life will bring you if you wait,” she says.

  Carole has dedicated much of her time and career helping patients diagnosed with cancer. She began her work at the oncology inpatient program in Detroit’s Harper Hospital before becoming a high tech home care RN for the Michigan Cancer Foundation Home Care Program in 1983. It was during this time that Carole developed a passion for wound, ostomy, and continence nursing. Inspired by Christine Rymal, a WOCN with whom she had worked closely, Carole decided to further her education in this specialty.

  Another person might have waited until the program she wanted to attend was accepting applications, but not Carole. Throwing all caution to the wind, she applied to the WOC program at MD Anderson (Texas), even though the deadline had passed. Fate was on her side. She was accepted to the program and quickly headed to Houston to begin her studies.

  After obtaining her WOCN, Carole worked another year as a home care nurse and then took a position with her current employer at the Karmanos Cancer Center (Detroit, MI), working specifically with cancer patients who have wound, ostomy, and continence needs.

   “In my current position, I provide wound, ostomy, and continence consultation services throughout the cancer center,” she says. “As a consultant to the medical team, I make recommendations for the management of complex wounds. I also serve as a role model and educator to the bedside staff on issues pertaining to wound, ostomy, and continence.”

  Carole recently returned to school to achieve another lifelong goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. After receiving her ANCC certification Adult Nurse Practitioner ANP-BC in 2009, Carole opened a clinic where she sees ostomy patients with any diagnosis and cancer patients with wound and continence issues at the Karmanos Center.

   “As a Nurse Practitioner specializing in wound and ostomy care, I am able to help patients with complex wound and ostomy issues that affect their quality of life,” she says. “Once these problems are addressed, their quality of life improves. I have several patients who were afraid to leave their homes for fear their pouching systems would leak. We resolved the issue, and the patients were able to return to their normal lives.”

  Though the job has its advantages, the practice doesn’t come without its share of drawbacks. “The challenging aspects are dealing with patients with complex needs in a down economy,” Carole says.