Episode 124 EP 124: Going With the Flow: Enhancing External Female Catheter Care


In this WOCTalk episode, we sit down with Alex Craig and Cece Zamarripa to discuss their poster, “Going With the Flow: Developing a Robust External Female Catheter Implementation Process,’ first presented at WOCNext® 2023. They dive into their system-wide quality improvement project aimed at managing skin integrity and reducing skin breakdown associated with female external catheters. Listen to discover their results and gain insights that could inspire similar initiatives in your practice.

Episode Resources:
For resources mention in this article, visit the links below
Abstract: “Going With the Flow” to Develop a Robust External Female Catheter Implementation Process
ePoster: Going With the Flow” to Develop a Robust External Female Catheter Implementation Process
Article: Implementation of an external female urinary catheter strategy on prevention of skin breakdown in acute care: A quality improvement study
Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) Program
Ostomy Care Associate (OCA) Program
WOC Nursing Education Programs accredited by the WOCN Society

About the Speakers:
Cecilia Zamarripa, PhD, RN, CWON, is a Wound, Ostomy and Continence (WOC) Nurse for 38 years and currently manages the WOC Nursing Department at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Prior to that, Cece practiced WOC Nursing at Baylor University Medical Center Dallas, Texas; Rush University Medical Center; and at the UPMC since 1997.

Cece has been involved as a clinical preceptor for nurses in a WOCNEP and in Nursing Education roles. In 2010, Cece had the privilege of being selected as the Joint Commission Resources Patient Safety Scholar in Residence. Her teaching experience includes RN to BSN program at Slippery Rock University, Community Health Nursing, clinical instructor at Duquesne University, Preceptor for nurses completing their WOC Nursing Education Program, and Course Co-Coordinator for the Wound Treatment Associate (WTA®) and Ostomy Care Associate (OCA®) programs.

Cece is involved in the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®) and was a past volunteer for WOCNext Conference Planning Committee. Cece is involved in her professional specialty organization and was a contributing member of the WOCN Peristomal Consensus Panel in November 2020. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Western PA Area Chapter for National Association of Hispanic Nurses, WOCN Society™, the WCET and a current Director for the WOCN Board.

Alexandra Craig, BSN, RN, WTA-C is a clinical research coordinator (CRC) for the UPMC Presbyterian WOC Nursing Department. During Alex’s time in the department, she has been instrumental in to help develop the projects and prepared documents for research study protocols. Her research experience includes a Support Surfaces RCT, Ostomy Barrier leakage retrospective study and numerous wound care quality projects. She is passionate about learning; research and the nursing science provides the evidence to improve patient care outcomes. She is currently enrolled in her MSN program and plans to attend a WOC Nursing Education Program (WOCNEP) soon after.