My Scope of Practice: Nursing Education is Fundamental

I am not a teacher; only a fellow traveler of whom you asked the way. I pointed ahead – ahead of myself as well as of you. —George Bernard Shaw

  Ottamissiah (Missy) Moore, BS, LPN, CLNI, WCC, CHPLN, is the definition of wound care education champion. Known throughout the Washington, DC metro area for providing exceptional care and advocating for education, Missy has been wound-certified for the last 7 years. It is evident she hit the ground running — and she hasn’t stopped.

  An active board member of the District of Columbia Board of Nursing, Missy provides invaluable wound care training in addition to working as a staff development specialist at Stoddard Baptist Global Care at Washington Center for Aging Services, a 259-bed, long-term care facility. The wound program is a result of her vision, developed when she noticed that nurses called before the nursing board and facilities performing surveys were having issues with wound care. The program is offered citywide to nurses in the Washington, DC area and given with the support of the DC Board of Nursing and the DC Department of Health. Participants are afforded CEUs. Missy’s sole intent was to educate her peers by increasing basic wound care knowledge and compliance with continuing education and licensure. “I wanted my colleagues to be exposed to the latest wound care products, concepts, and research in order to eliminate or prevent avoidable discipline in the clinical setting,” she says.

  Missy solicits influential speakers willing to educate pro bono; she also invites wound care vendors to participate in the sessions so attendees have the opportunity to come away with a better understanding of the products they will eventually need. Local hospitals and long-term care facilities provide the lecture space.

  Missy’s professional responsibilities have evolved over the years. What she appreciates most is the ongoing support of her peers. “I have never asked anyone to speak gratis and been turned down,” she says. “They make my visions a reality. Knowledge deficit of guidelines and practice is a barrier to providing optimal care — these programs are my way of helping care providers get much-needed information for better patient outcomes. So far, the benefits have been tremendous.”

  When she is not working, spending time with her two sons, checking out the latest art expo, or basking on the beach, Missy serves as President of the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses (NFLPN), as well as a board member of the National Alliance of Wound Care (NAWC). These positions inspired her to think outside the box in terms of patient care and wounds. “As the NFLPN president, I had to partner with an organization that would support LPNs in their current positions,” she says. “This is important because a majority of wound care is provided by LPNs working in long-term care. As a board member of the DC Board of Nursing, it was critically important for me to make information available that could be used in everyday practice and to encourage nurses to consider certification to obtain a stronger and advanced knowledge base for the specialty practice.” Being a member of the NAWC has strengthened and validated Missy’s wound care outreach platform. “I travel to various states that typically request a wound care lecture of some sort. I provide the training on my own time free of charge because I am that passionate about the message.”

  Missy’s involvement doesn’t stop with wound care — she also works with two community service organizations in her area. She gets her inspiration from family members, role models who have played a special part in her professional and personal development. Missy’s work has taught her the value of stick-to-it-iveness. “I always encourage persistence,” she says. “I tell others to continue to ask questions until you get, or develop a plan to get, what you need. Every person in or considering this arena of care should arm him- or herself with knowledge of the specialty. Find a great mentor to help you understand the different aspects of what you do. Equip yourself with information about cost, billing, and MD participation.” Missy consistently portrays caring and dedication, two essential elements in her ongoing determination to inform and educate in her scope of practice.

This article was not subject to the Ostomy Wound Management peer-review process.