Dylan Carpenter
June 2025
Dylan
Carpenter
,
MSN, RN, CWOCN, PCCN, MEDSURG-BC
WOCN Society
Mt Laurel
,
NJ
United States
His leadership fosters a culture of professional growth, as he mentors colleagues through the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) research method. Dylan’s commitment to professional development is further reflected in his participation in the WOC Society Mentor/Mentee Program, where he continues to grow and learn alongside his peers, ensuring that he remains at the forefront of WOC nursing practice.
Role as Clinician:
Dylan exemplifies the compassionate clinician role by applying critical thinking and sound judgment to deliver individualized, patient-centered care. Working in Alabama, a state with diverse patient populations, Dylan’s ability to meet the unique needs of patients—especially those with new ostomies—demonstrates his advanced skill set well beyond that of a novice nurse. His use of humor and approachable demeanor helps to demystify complex health concepts, empowering patients to take charge of their care journeys. Beyond direct bedside care, Dylan’s systemic impact is evident through initiatives like addressing the need for wound care supplies and basic wound care education in the emergency department (ED). He is actively collaborating with stakeholders to develop standardized wound care protocols, showcasing his leadership and commitment to improving institutional care processes. To address the needs of Alabama’s large diabetic population, Dylan is enrolled in a diabetic scholar program to deepen his expertise. His goal is to use this foundation to develop a comprehensive diabetic foot care education project focused on diabetic foot injury prevention. Dylan’s ability to proactively identify needs is a testament to his holistic approach to patient well-being.
Role as Educator:
Dylan’s passion for education is clearly obvious and is integral to his role as a WOC nurse. With a Master of Science in Nursing Education, he uses his expertise to teach patients, caregivers, nursing students, and clinical staff. He has built partnerships with multiple local nursing schools to facilitate clinical hour opportunities, bridging the gap between theory and practice. Dylan recently delivered a keynote lecture to over 400 nursing students on ostomy care, using simulation and gamification to engage learners and build critical skill competencies for future patient care. It was a huge hit and he has already been requested to deliver it again for the next cohort. He also invests in the professional development and education of his colleagues. As a key figure in his institution’s Wound Scholar Program, Dylan helps design and deliver interprofessional curricula that advance clinical skills of bedside staff. His role in new graduate nurse orientation equips nurses with essential WOC skills, establishing them as agents of change within their unit. Through regular unit in-services and clinical audits, Dylan promotes evidence-based practice and ensures staff remain aligned with the latest standards in wound, ostomy, and continence care.
Role as Consultant:
Dylan is a trusted consultant and collaborator across multidisciplinary teams. His involvement in the hospital’s Interprofessional Skin Team and leadership in the GI Surgery Task Force highlight his ability to assess needs, build consensus, and implement effective strategies. Notably, he contributed to a project aimed at reducing ostomy readmissions by standardizing patient education and improving communication among care teams. Within the GI Surgery unit, Dylan provides hands-on mentorship through weekly rounding audits. By collecting patient data and collaborating with staff on action plans, he drives measurable improvements in patient outcomes. His audit tool has been adopted across multiple units, exemplifying his capacity to scale effective practices. Dylan’s mentorship goes beyond clinical expertise—he fosters a supportive environment that enhances both patient care and staff satisfaction.
Role as Researcher:
Dylan’s research contributions have significantly advanced WOC nursing. At the NPIAP 2025 Conference, he won “Best Quality Improvement Poster” for a pressure injury prevention bundle that reduced hospital-acquired heel pressure injuries (HAPIs) to zero and has a projected institutional cost savings of $500,000 annually. He also received the People’s Choice Award at UAB’s inpatient storyboard symposium for his research efforts. Dylan’s research contributions extend beyond pressure injury prevention. He will present two posters at the upcoming WOCNext conference. The projects will showcase his work on ostomy education for nursing students and exploring the benefits of early convexity in the immediate postoperative period. These contributions to the advancement of WOC nursing underscore his commitment to translating research into practice and improving care standards across the institution and community.
Role as Administrator:
Dylan’s administrative skills are another pillar of his practice. He demonstrates strong administrative skills by evaluating WOC services to ensure quality care and fiscal responsibility. He is actively involved in the value analysis team, where he applies his expertise to evaluate resources and identify areas for cost-effective improvements without compromising patient care. Dylan's resource management skills were evident in a recent project where he used a pressure mapping system to educate bedside staff about the negative impact of excessive use of incontinence pads on both patient pressure and hospital expenditures. This project is projected to decrease incontinence product usage by 60% over the next year underscoring his commitment to improving care efficiency and sustainability. His collaboration with vendors to trial new products, such as specialized seat cushions, further exemplifies his evidence-based approach to administrative decision-making, dedication to patient comfort, and ability to improve clinical outcomes.
Role as Professional Leader:
Dylan’s leadership in the WOC nursing specialty is exemplary. As Vice President of the Central Alabama WOC Nurses Association, he actively works to expand the organization’s outreach and influence. He is also an active member of multiple professional organizations, including World Council of Enterstomal Therapist, Sigma Theta Tau, and American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Holding certifications as a Certified Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse (CWOCN),Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN), and Medical Surgical Board Certification (MEDSURG-BC), Dylan exemplifies clinical expertise, professionalism, and commitment to nursing excellence. Dylan’s leadership extends to mentorship. He has been instrumental in guiding colleagues through the WOC Expert Program, encouraging them to engage in quality improvement and evidence-based practice projects. His leadership fosters a culture of professional growth, as he mentors colleagues through the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) research method. Dylan’s commitment to professional development is further reflected in his participation in the WOC Society Mentor/Mentee Program, where he continues to grow and learn alongside his peers, ensuring that he remains at the forefront of WOC nursing practice. In summary, Dylan's multifaceted contributions—as a compassionate clinician, educator, consultant/mentor, researcher, administrator, and professional leader—reflect an unwavering commitment to excellence in WOC nursing. His ability to integrate compassionate care with innovation, leadership, and system-level change makes him an invaluable asset to both his patients and the WOC nursing profession.
Dylan exemplifies the compassionate clinician role by applying critical thinking and sound judgment to deliver individualized, patient-centered care. Working in Alabama, a state with diverse patient populations, Dylan’s ability to meet the unique needs of patients—especially those with new ostomies—demonstrates his advanced skill set well beyond that of a novice nurse. His use of humor and approachable demeanor helps to demystify complex health concepts, empowering patients to take charge of their care journeys. Beyond direct bedside care, Dylan’s systemic impact is evident through initiatives like addressing the need for wound care supplies and basic wound care education in the emergency department (ED). He is actively collaborating with stakeholders to develop standardized wound care protocols, showcasing his leadership and commitment to improving institutional care processes. To address the needs of Alabama’s large diabetic population, Dylan is enrolled in a diabetic scholar program to deepen his expertise. His goal is to use this foundation to develop a comprehensive diabetic foot care education project focused on diabetic foot injury prevention. Dylan’s ability to proactively identify needs is a testament to his holistic approach to patient well-being.
Role as Educator:
Dylan’s passion for education is clearly obvious and is integral to his role as a WOC nurse. With a Master of Science in Nursing Education, he uses his expertise to teach patients, caregivers, nursing students, and clinical staff. He has built partnerships with multiple local nursing schools to facilitate clinical hour opportunities, bridging the gap between theory and practice. Dylan recently delivered a keynote lecture to over 400 nursing students on ostomy care, using simulation and gamification to engage learners and build critical skill competencies for future patient care. It was a huge hit and he has already been requested to deliver it again for the next cohort. He also invests in the professional development and education of his colleagues. As a key figure in his institution’s Wound Scholar Program, Dylan helps design and deliver interprofessional curricula that advance clinical skills of bedside staff. His role in new graduate nurse orientation equips nurses with essential WOC skills, establishing them as agents of change within their unit. Through regular unit in-services and clinical audits, Dylan promotes evidence-based practice and ensures staff remain aligned with the latest standards in wound, ostomy, and continence care.
Role as Consultant:
Dylan is a trusted consultant and collaborator across multidisciplinary teams. His involvement in the hospital’s Interprofessional Skin Team and leadership in the GI Surgery Task Force highlight his ability to assess needs, build consensus, and implement effective strategies. Notably, he contributed to a project aimed at reducing ostomy readmissions by standardizing patient education and improving communication among care teams. Within the GI Surgery unit, Dylan provides hands-on mentorship through weekly rounding audits. By collecting patient data and collaborating with staff on action plans, he drives measurable improvements in patient outcomes. His audit tool has been adopted across multiple units, exemplifying his capacity to scale effective practices. Dylan’s mentorship goes beyond clinical expertise—he fosters a supportive environment that enhances both patient care and staff satisfaction.
Role as Researcher:
Dylan’s research contributions have significantly advanced WOC nursing. At the NPIAP 2025 Conference, he won “Best Quality Improvement Poster” for a pressure injury prevention bundle that reduced hospital-acquired heel pressure injuries (HAPIs) to zero and has a projected institutional cost savings of $500,000 annually. He also received the People’s Choice Award at UAB’s inpatient storyboard symposium for his research efforts. Dylan’s research contributions extend beyond pressure injury prevention. He will present two posters at the upcoming WOCNext conference. The projects will showcase his work on ostomy education for nursing students and exploring the benefits of early convexity in the immediate postoperative period. These contributions to the advancement of WOC nursing underscore his commitment to translating research into practice and improving care standards across the institution and community.
Role as Administrator:
Dylan’s administrative skills are another pillar of his practice. He demonstrates strong administrative skills by evaluating WOC services to ensure quality care and fiscal responsibility. He is actively involved in the value analysis team, where he applies his expertise to evaluate resources and identify areas for cost-effective improvements without compromising patient care. Dylan's resource management skills were evident in a recent project where he used a pressure mapping system to educate bedside staff about the negative impact of excessive use of incontinence pads on both patient pressure and hospital expenditures. This project is projected to decrease incontinence product usage by 60% over the next year underscoring his commitment to improving care efficiency and sustainability. His collaboration with vendors to trial new products, such as specialized seat cushions, further exemplifies his evidence-based approach to administrative decision-making, dedication to patient comfort, and ability to improve clinical outcomes.
Role as Professional Leader:
Dylan’s leadership in the WOC nursing specialty is exemplary. As Vice President of the Central Alabama WOC Nurses Association, he actively works to expand the organization’s outreach and influence. He is also an active member of multiple professional organizations, including World Council of Enterstomal Therapist, Sigma Theta Tau, and American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Holding certifications as a Certified Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse (CWOCN),Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN), and Medical Surgical Board Certification (MEDSURG-BC), Dylan exemplifies clinical expertise, professionalism, and commitment to nursing excellence. Dylan’s leadership extends to mentorship. He has been instrumental in guiding colleagues through the WOC Expert Program, encouraging them to engage in quality improvement and evidence-based practice projects. His leadership fosters a culture of professional growth, as he mentors colleagues through the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) research method. Dylan’s commitment to professional development is further reflected in his participation in the WOC Society Mentor/Mentee Program, where he continues to grow and learn alongside his peers, ensuring that he remains at the forefront of WOC nursing practice. In summary, Dylan's multifaceted contributions—as a compassionate clinician, educator, consultant/mentor, researcher, administrator, and professional leader—reflect an unwavering commitment to excellence in WOC nursing. His ability to integrate compassionate care with innovation, leadership, and system-level change makes him an invaluable asset to both his patients and the WOC nursing profession.