Who We Are…
…and What We Do
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
What is the WOCN Society?
Founded in 1968
 A professional, international nursing
society
 More than 4,800 health care professionals
 Dedicated to caring for patients with
wound, ostomy or continence (WOC)
concerns
 Supports political, educational,
clinical, and research opportunities

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
What is the WOCN Society?

WOCN members include:
 Registered
nurses (RNs) who are experts in
WOC and foot and nail care
 Associate and corporate members who
support the mission of the Society
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Who is a WOC Nurse?
Formerly known as Enterostomal Therapy
(ET) nurses
 Are RNs with baccalaureate (or higher)
degrees
 Who specialize in the care of patients with
wounds, ostomies, or continence disorders

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Who is a WOC Nurse?
Graduate of a WOCN-accredited
education program (WOCNEP)
 And/or certified by the Wound, Ostomy
and Continence Nursing Certification
Board (WOCNCB)
 Many have also obtained certification in
foot and nail care

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
What is WOC Nursing?

A specialty practice recognized by the
American Nurses Association
(WOCN, 2010)
WOC nurses can be educated, certified
and practice in one or more areas of WOC
nursing
 The role of the WOC nurse is to direct,
coordinate, and evaluate patient care in
the areas of their expertise

What We Do…
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
A Typical WOC Nurse’s Day!
Coordinates patient care in complex
environments
 Uses critical thinking skills
 Creatively solves complex clinical
problems
 Uses advanced therapies and technology

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
A Typical WOC Nurse’s Day!
Educates patients, families, students, and
staff
 Collaborates with physicians and other
health care professionals
 Advocates for patients

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Where We Work
Acute care
 Long-term care
 Home health care
 Clinics
 Private practice
 Assisted living
 Hospice
 Corporate and industry settings

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Wound Care

Chronic and acute wounds include:
 Neuropathic
wounds
 Pressure ulcers
 Surgical wounds
 Trauma wounds
 Vascular wounds (venous, arterial)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Wound Care

There are approximately 5-7 million
wounds in the U.S. reported each year
(WOCN, 2009)
Selects topical therapies
 Provides complex wound care

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Wound Care

Estimated prevalence of pressure ulcers
is:
 14-17%
acute care
 27.3% long-term care
 3-10% home health care
(Pieper, 2012)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Wound Care

Treating chronic wounds in the U.S. costs:
 More
than $20-25 billion per year
 Plus an additional $15.3 billion for wound
products
(De la Torre & Chambers, 2011; Sen et al., 2009)

Performs comprehensive assessments
(e.g., patient, wound, risk, nutrition)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Wound Care

Recommends:
 Prevention
strategies
 Support surfaces for pressure redistribution
 Complex treatment modalities
 Adjunctive therapies
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Wound Care

Performs:
 Conservative
sharp wound debridement
 Chemical cautery with MD orders
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Ostomy Care

Nearly 120,000 people each year have
urinary or fecal diversion (ostomy) surgery
(Turnbull, 2003; WOCN, 2009)

It is estimated that there are 750,000
people currently in the U.S. with an
ostomy
(WOCN, 2009)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Ostomy Care

Types of ostomies:
 Colostomy
 Urostomy
 Ileostomy
 Urinary
and fecal continent diversions
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Ostomy Care
Teaching: Pre-operative and postoperative ostomy care
 Stoma site selection
 Product selection and complex prosthetic
fitting

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Ostomy Care
Prevention and treatment of peristomal
skin irritation and complications
 Counseling and psychosocial support for
lifestyle and quality of life issues

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Continence Care

Approximately 11 million men and women
suffer from urinary or fecal incontinence in
the U.S.
(WOCN, 2009)

Medicare costs for managing urinary
incontinence:
 Estimated
at more than $27.8 million annually
 Average of $3,565 per incontinent person
(WOCN, 2005)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Continence Care
Bowel and bladder training
 Selecting collection devices and products
to contain and manage incontinence
 Intermittent catheter instruction

Courtesy of the
American Physical Therapy Association
Alexandria, Virginia
Courtesy of
Hollister Incorporated
Libertyville, Illinois
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Expert Continence Care
Skin care: Prevention and treatment of
incontinence associated dermatitis
 Biofeedback

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Foot and Nail Care

Since 2005, over 600 Certified Foot Care
Nurses [CFCN] have elevated the quality
of foot care for patients in:
 Hospitals
 Long-term
care facilities
 Podiatry offices
 Patient’s own home
(WOCNCB, n.d.)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Foot and Nail Care

The increased credibility, recognition, and
authority conveyed by CFCN certification
has led to greater opportunities to:
 Develop
foot care interventions that improve
patient well being
 Enhance risk management
(WOCNCB, n.d.)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Basic and Advanced Foot and Nail
Care
Basic foot care and hygiene
 Lower extremity assessment and
identification of high risk foot conditions
 Cutting nails

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Basic and Advanced Foot and Nail
Care
Debridement of corns and calluses
 Identification and management of
onychomycosis and other skin conditions

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOC Nurses Do it All!
Professional Roles
 Expert
clinician
 Administration
 Education
 Research
 Consultation and guidance
for evidenced-based patient
care
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Benefits of Being a WOC Nurse
Improving the quality of life for the
patients we serve!
 Job
satisfaction
 Job diversity and job availability
 Clinical ladder promotion
 Autonomy
 Flexible schedule
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOC Nursing Educational Programs
Remember the WOCN Society offers
scholarships to its members!!
Clinic – R. B. Turnbull, Jr. M.D.
WOC Nursing Education Program
 Emory University School of Medicine – WOC
Nursing Education Center
 Harrisburg Area Wound Care Specialty
Program and WOC Nursing Education
Program – Sponsored by Wicks
Educational Associates, Inc.
 Cleveland
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOC Nursing Educational Programs
Remember the WOCN Society offers
scholarships to its members!!
 University
of Virginia Graduate Program in
WOC Nursing at the University of Virginia
School of Nursing
 University of Washington Wound
Management Education Program VA Eastern
Kansas Wound Management Academy
 webWOC Nursing Education Program
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOC Nursing Educational Programs
Accredited by the WOCN Society
 Provide in-depth didactic instruction in

 One
or more areas of WOC specialty nursing
 Professional practice content
 Include precepted clinical experiences
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOC Nursing Educational Programs

Opportunities offered:
 On-site
(traditional)
 Online
 Web-enhanced
 Distance
education
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOCNEP Admission Criteria
*Applicants must be:
 RN
(Baccalaureate or higher degree) with a
major in nursing
OR
 RN
with a Baccalaureate degree in another
field
 Plus one year of RN clinical nursing
experience, following RN licensure
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOCNEP Admission Criteria
*Applicants must be:
 RN
with a Baccalaureate Degree or higher
 One year of RN clinical nursing experience
following RN licensure
 Current clinical nursing experience within 5
years prior to application to a WOCNEP
Documentation of currency of clinical nursing
experience within last 5 years: current, active
practice, completion of a nurse refresher course, or
a clinical performance examination
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOCNEP Admission Criteria
*An individual WOCNEP may have
additional criteria
Become a WOC Nurse >>
www.wocn.org/becomeWOCnurse
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOCN Society’s Mission
The WOCN Society is a professional nursing
society, which supports its members by
promoting educational, clinical, and research
opportunities to advance the practice and
guide the delivery of expert health care to
individuals with wound, ostomy and
continence concerns.
(WOCN, 2012)
Become a WOCN
Member Today!
www.wocn.org
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Who Can Join the WOCN Society?

Any full-time student
studying to become a RN
 Associate
degree
 Bachelor of Science
degree
 Diploma program

Nursing student
membership fees are
discounted 50%
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Who Can Join the WOCN Society?
Any RN who supports the Society’s
purpose, mission and goals
 Associate membership may be granted to
individuals working in WOC care that
support the Society’s purpose, mission
and goals

(WOCN, 2012)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOCN Membership has its Rewards!
Education, Scholarships and
Research Opportunities
 Discounted
WOCN annual
conference fees
 Online continuing education
opportunities in the Continuing
Education Center (CEC)
 Scholarships
 Research grants
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOCN Membership has its Rewards!
Publications
 Journal
of Wound, Ostomy
and Continence Nursing
(JWOCN) – bimonthly
 In It For You magazine
 WOCNow – monthly
electronic newsletter
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOCN Membership has its Rewards!
Publications continued…
 Discounted
publications (e.g., clinical practice
guidelines, best practice documents) and logo
products in the WOCN Bookstore
 WOCN Member Library – members-only
publications (e.g., Business Plan Template,
best practice documents, fact sheets)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
WOCN Membership has its Rewards!
WOCN Society’s online networking
 Opportunities and resources
 Discussion forums
 Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter
 Membership Directory
 Members’ Empowerment Section

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
Interested in Joining the WOCN
Society?
Go to www.wocn.org and click on the
Membership tab
OR
Call the WOCN Society:
(888)-224-9626
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
The Future is Ours!
If global trends and past history are
indicators of what is yet to come, then
WOC nurses are likely to be in great
demand for the foreseeable future
 They care for all age groups, are versatile
across care settings, and teach for both
prevention of disease and/or institution of
care to promote rehabilitation

(Beitz, 2000)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
The Future is Ours!

WOC nurses are and will be increasingly
valuable to American society because
they:
 Help
ensure quality nursing outcomes for the
American people
 Assist with health care cost control
 Provide, amid the technology, the necessary
human touch for people needing
comprehensive WOC care in the new
millennium
(Beitz, 2000)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
References
Beitz, J. M. (2000). Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing: A
career for the new millennium. Retrieved March 2013,
from http://www2.nursingspectrum.com/articles/article.cf
m?aid=1557
De la Torre, J. I., & Chambers, J. A. (2011). Chronic
wounds. Retrieved March 2013, from
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1298452overview#showall
Pieper, B. (2012). Pressure ulcers: Impact, etiology, and
classification. In R.A. Bryant & D.P. Nix (Eds.), Acute &
Chronic Wounds. Current Management Concepts (4th
ed., pp. 123-136). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
References
Sen, C. K., Gordillo, G. M., Roy, S., Kirsner, R., Lambert,
L., Hunt, T. K., …Longaker, M. T. (2009). Human skin
wounds: A major and snowballing threat to public health
and the economy. Wound Repair Regen, 17(6), 763-771.
Retrieved March 2013, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2810192/p
df/nihms165224.pdf
Turnbull, G. B. (2003). Ostomy statistics: The $64,000
question. Ostomy Wound Manage, 49(6), 22-3.
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
References
WOCN Society. (2005). White Papers Bundle. Retrieved
March 2013, from https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/wocn.siteym.com/resource/collection/AEF67A57-89B3-40669C2099DC64DE51C6/White_Papers_Bundle_(2005).pdf
WOCN Society. (2009). The Path to Becoming a Wound
Ostomy Continence Nurse. Retrieved March 2013, from
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.wocn.org/resource/resmgr
/Marketing_Tools/WOCN-09-Nurse-Career-Bro.pdf
WOCN Society. (2010). Wound, Ostomy and Continence
Nursing. Scope & Standards of Practice. Mt. Laurel, NJ:
Author.
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™
References
WOCN Society. (2012). WOCN Society’s Policy &
Procedure Manual. Mt. Laurel, NJ: Author. Retrieved
March 2013, from https://wocn.siteym.com/global_engine/download.asp?fileid=13567F4311CB-4DAB-8BC4-1962C4071157&ext=pdf
WOCNCB. (n.d.). How to Certify: Foot Care. Retrieved
March 2013, from http://www.wocncb.org/becomecertified/foot-and-nail
PowerPoint
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WOCN Membership Committee
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www.wocn.org
888-224-WOCN (9626)
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