The purpose of this study was to clarify the practical ability of certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses（WOCNs）. The subjects were 24 WOCNs working at hospitals. Data were collected through focused group interviews based on a questionnaire regarding the practical ability and subjects.
　As a result of categorization and analysis, the concept of practical ability was classified into seven categories : “WOC nursing care practice”, “development of WOC nursing care”, “leadership”, “formation of teamwork”, “practice of consultation”, “promotion for organization change” and “self-culture”.
　We hope these results will career promote development after achieving the WOCN qualification in the future.

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　We conducted a survey involving 308 nurses at ten hospitals in Japan to examine the consideration given to odor control during stoma care. When changing the stoma appliance, 52% of respondents always considered odor, and 57% were always conscious to minimize odor at the tail end of the drainable bags. This tendency was stronger for those with longer nursing experience. Experienced nurses tended not to be bothered by the odor while changing the stoma appliance. In addition, more experienced nurses practiced better stoma care in terms of considering odor regarding the location for changing the stoma appliance, method for disposing of ostomy bags, method of cleaning the ostomy bag's drainable tail, and giving explanations to patients about deodorization measures.
　From previous experiences regarding odor, nurses consulted by ostomates strongly considered odor ; however there was no correlation between the consideration for oder and complaints from a patient in the same room or whether nurses received indications and guidance from senior or fellow workers. This study suggests that education to promote a consideration of odor during stoma care practices is important regardless of nursing the level of experience.

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　　The purpose of this study was to verify the influence of skin barrier function due to daily dressing changes conducted by nurses for sacral pressure ulcers. Subjects were twenty-eight patients（10 males and 18 females）aged over 65 and above with sacral pressure ulcers of stageⅡ～Ⅳcontaining exudate. One group, consisting of 14 patients, used gauze, and another group, also with 14 patients, used modern wound dressings. Transepidermal water loss（TEWL）was measured to verify the periwound skin barrier function. In the gauze group, the nurse observed the gauze 4 times a day, and if exudate contamination reached the periwound area, the gauze was changed. In the modern wound dressing group, the dressing application was either shortened or the daily dressing change was increased infreguency. Care intervention was conducted for 6 days. TEWL was measured at the beginning, on the third day and on the 6th day. In conclusion, after care intervention, the periwound skin function improved on the 6th day compared to initial treatment for both the gauze and modern wound dressing groups（p<0.05）.

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[in Japanese]

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