WOCN Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest (COI) Policy

The following information is taken directly from Section 2.10.a of the WOCN Society's Policy and Procedure Manual.

The actions of the Board of Directors and National Office staff should be free of any real or perceived conflict of interest. The mission and philosophy of the WOCN Society are based on the values the WOCN Society strives to attain. Ethical behavior arises from adherence to these values by all National Office staff, leaders, volunteers, consultants and members representing the WOCN Society.

This Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy are meant to provide direction and guidance for professional interactions; however, they should not limit or serve as a barrier to those interactions.

WOCN leaders: Officers and Directors of the WOCN Society, elected by membership and/or appointed by the Board of Directors, per WOCN Bylaws. WOCN volunteers: Society members appointed by the Board of Directors to act on behalf of the WOCN Society, including but not limited to committee and task force chairs and/or members. WOCN National Office staff: Individuals employed by the Association Management Company responsible for managing day-to-day operations of the WOCN Society. WOCN consultants: Individuals appointed by the Board of Directors who are paid to carry out services on behalf of the WOCN Society, including but not limited to JWOCN Editor-in-Chief, JWOCN Deputy Editor, JWOCN Managing Editor, WOCN Clinical Editor, Director of Government Relations, and Continuing Education and Accreditation Director. WOCN members: Individuals who elect to join the WOCN Society.

Members, National Office staff, leaders, volunteers and consultants strive for compatibility between our values and actions. Our dealings with each other should be based on mutual trust and dedication. We should treat each other with respect and dignity at all times. In doing so, the WOCN Society will maintain ethical relationships and lasting credibility with members, colleagues, and the general public. Listed below are guidelines to assist all parties outlined in the Definitions section of this policy in avoiding any real or perceived conflict of interest.

1. Participation on Board of Directors. To ensure that all participants in the activities of the WOCN Society are governed exclusively by the best interests of the WOCN Society, members of the Board of Directors cannot be employed by a commercial industry that provides products or services to the WOCN Society. Additionally, strategic employees of a wound, ostomy, and/or continence nursing education program seeking or holding accreditation as a WOCNEP (e.g., Program Director, Assistant Program Director, or any employee who works in a similar capacity overseeing the business or strategic direction of the program) are not eligible to serve on the WOCN Board of Directors. 2. Maintain exemplary standards of personal and professional conduct. The personal and professional conduct of representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society is held up to the scrutiny of the membership since they are serving the members’ interests. Maintenance of this code requires an unwavering commitment on the part of these individuals. 3. Actively model and encourage the integration of ethics into all aspects of professional and volunteer work. Representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society fulfill an important leadership role. They have the opportunity to enhance the ethical awareness of their members. They have the obligation to actively apply ethics throughout the activities of the WOCN Society. 4. Maintain loyalty to the WOCN Society and pursue its objectives in ways that are consistent with the interests of the members. It is the primary and fundamental responsibility of representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society to loyally serve the interests of the WOCN Society and its members. 5. Recognize and discharge personal responsibility and that of the WOCN Society to uphold all laws and regulations in implementing the policies and conducting the activities of the WOCN Society. Be familiar with the basic principles of law and regulations, which affect the WOCN Society. As representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society, we have the responsibility to help members understand the legal framework within which they operate in the WOCN Society and to make sure that all policies of the WOCN Society are formulated and all activities are conducted within this framework. 6. Strive to continually advance personal knowledge and achieve higher levels of excellence in WOC nursing. Representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society have a responsibility to maintain current practice, be aware of changes in WOC nursing practice and to apply this knowledge in all of the interactions of the WOCN Society.

7. Serve all members fairly, and realize no personal gain from a member, WOCNEP or industry partner. By virtue of position, the Board of Directors may find themselves in a position to grant or receive special favors (e.g., Kickbacks) for or from members, vendors, and others. The Board of Directors has a responsibility to make the best possible decisions in the interest of the WOCN Society without regard to personal gain. Therefore, members of the Board of Directors should take special care to avoid either the fact or the appearance of personal gain in decision-making. They have a responsibility to represent the interests of all members fairly and should avoid incurring an obligation to a single individual, vendor or some fraction of the membership. 8. Maintain the confidentiality of all privileged information, except when doing so becomes an ethical or legal breach of conduct. Representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society frequently have access to privileged information and are expected to keep such information confidential until it is made public. If a representative(s) receives information, which potentially places the WOCN Society legally at risk, she/he must immediately notify the president and chief staff officer while recognizing the confidentiality of the information. Members of the Board of Directors have a legal and fiduciary duty to maintain all Society information as confidential until such time as the Board determines any such information may be made public. 9. Representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society must be cognizant that they are representing the WOCN Society at all times. 10. If a member of the Board of Directors is considering an activity that could be considered a conflict of interest, the member should disclose to and consult with the president and chief staff officer. The matter will be referred to the Board of Directors for a decision. By way of example, members of the Board of Directors shall refrain from activities and relationships such as participation in industry-sponsored speakers’ bureau, participation in industry-sponsored clinical advisory panels, serving as Board of Directors’ member or program/committee chair for another society. 11. Use of publications and products. All WOCN publications and products are the property of the WOCN Society. No individual is authorized to publish or reproduce documents or material, nor act on behalf of the WOCN Society; except, with the express permission or written consent from the Board of Directors, president, chief staff executive, or a designee. This includes the use of the WOCN Society name, logo, or any terminology implying WOCN sponsorship or endorsement. 12. A brief ethical behavior checklist is included for addressing situations that have not been discussed. If unsure of what to do in a given situation, before making decisions or taking action, the following questions should be considered from the CLICK model (University of Dayton Research Institute, 2017): - Consequence: What are the consequences if I do this? Who will benefit? Who will suffer? - Legal: Is it legal? - Image: Would I like to see this on the front page of the newspaper? Would I like to tell this to my kids? - Culture: Does this decision support or damage our organization’s culture and values? - Knot: Does doing it cause a knot in my stomach? Reference: University of Dayton Research Institute. (2017). CLICK model. Retrieved December 5, 2017, from https://ethics.udri.udayton.edu/Pages/CLICKModel.aspx.

The following information is taken directly from Section 2.10.b of the WOCN Society's Policy and Procedure Manual.

The actions of the representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society should be free of any real or perceived conflict of interest.

Because individuals who participate in the activities of the WOCN Society may have financial relationships with outside public and private entities that have an interest in WOC issues, significant financial or administrative relationships, which might create a conflict of interest, must be fully disclosed and mechanisms established to deal with such conflicts.

Representatives shall complete the disclosure form upon taking office or acting on behalf of the WOCN Society (as defined in Section 2.10.a.) annually, or when a change in status occurs. This provides a means to acknowledge and report potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest. Board of Directors is held to the strictest standards, while other Society representatives will provide disclosure for Board information only. Representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society, as defined in Section 2.10.a, shall disclose their relationships in which they or immediate family members may have a material interest including, but not limited to, grants or other funding from another entity; participation in a speakers’ bureau sponsored by another entity; or financial interest in another entity.

All representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society shall disclose their relationships in which they or immediate family members may have a material interest including, but not limited to, grants or other funding from another entity; participation in a speakers’ bureau sponsored by another entity; or financial interest in another entity. Conflicts may arise from administrative roles in other organizations whose activities may be affected by activities of the WOCN Society. Such positions must be revealed (e.g., Board of Directors’ member or program/committee chair for another society, WOCNEP employment), regardless of whether or not the covered individual (as defined in Section 2.10.a) has a financial interest in the outside entity.

A disclosure form should be completed upon assuming a covered position (as defined in Section 2.10.a) and annually, thereafter. In addition, if at any time there is a significant change in circumstances for a reporting individual that materially affects the disclosure form on file, an additional disclosure form containing updated information shall be filed with the National Office and circulated to all Board of Directors members.

a. Representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society have an obligation to disclose such interests prior to the discussion or presentation of such matters before the Board of Directors. b. Upon disclosure, the Board of Directors should review the potential conflict and determine if a conflict exists. Depending upon the circumstances, it may be prudent for the Board of Directors to exclude the affected individual from part or all of the discussion of the relevant matter. c. Covered individuals may not vote on matters in which they have a potential conflict of interest.

a. If a member of the Board of Directors has a question about a potential conflict of interest, she/he should submit a written summary and disclosure of the activity in question to the Board of Directors via the president and chief staff executive. b. The president presents the request to the Board of Directors for discussion. c. When a decision is reached by consensus, a formal written reply is sent to the individual who has requested the determination. d. If the Board of Directors is not able to reach consensus, the president will appoint an ad hoc Ethics Committee to review the request and deliver a recommendation to the Board of Directors complete with rationale. e. The Board of Directors will review the recommendation and vote on the recommendation. The president will then provide a written response to the individual who has requested the determination. f. If the Board, or the designated decision-making body, deems the activity to be a conflict of interest, the member shall cease from participating in said activity. Failure to do so will result in the Board removing the individual from her/his position.

The chief staff executive shall provide copies of the annual disclosure forms filed by representatives acting on behalf of the WOCN Society to all members of the Board of Directors. The information in the disclosure forms may be disclosed only upon approval by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee of the WOCN Society. The completed Conflict of Interest Disclosure forms are confidential and will be available to the WOCN Board of Directors. Statements will be kept at the National Office.

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