Anyone going to WCEI for certification ? Your thoughts?

Specialties Wound

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Specializes in ER, Forensic Nurse, SANE.

I have been an RN for 16 yrs and currently in home health. Im ready to learn more about wounds and skin care. Wanting to get WCC certified with WCEI, but it is very expensive $3000. Is it worth it? My company will not pay for the education even thought they will benefit from it.

What is the outlook on wound care and ostomy care in the future? is here a need for certified wound and ostomy nurses? Should I just work in a wound care clinic ? Should I wait and until I get my BSN and get CWOCN which could be $ 5-10 k. I know money is not everything, BUT has anyone had an increase in salary because of their certification?

Your thoughts on how being wound care certified has helped you?

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This was my post from a similar thread.

I am a CWS, which is a purely experiential route, and a credential earned by proving adequate experience as well as passing a board exam (Abwm.org). The WCC course is definitely a 'starting' point in lieu of an end point with wound care. It is a great educational session but definitely shouldn't confer certification or expertise. If at all possible it would be great for the nurses who are RNs with a bachelor's to go online http://www.webwocnurse.com to take their WOCN education if they are not able to attend a 'brick and mortar' school, like Emory University in Georgia. At Emory they can attend distance classes and go for one 'bridge week' and do final check off and exams, then go home and precept with a WOCN and then take board exams. I feel personally like this is the best long term option for the company to invest in, it is almost the same cost as the $3,000 WCC course, with much more in depth edu and larger scope of practice. LPNs and RNs without a BS, however, could test for their CWCA and if they cannot pass, they will be restricted to the WCC course. Hope this helps!

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Specializes in Hospice, Geriatrics, Wounds.

I took the class (paid for myself as i am in hospice and cmpy definitely wouldnt cover) just a few months ago. I would do it again....it was well worth the expense. Passed the exam with no problems (buy flash cards...will help tremendously with studying) .

I have since received further training (not in wound care) in which I was surrounded with WOCN nurses. Needless to say, I knew just as much, if not more, than them regarding wounds. I dont have.a BSN, so only had option of WCC. Now, in saying that, I can also tell you there was definitely a different caliber of nurses who were in my WCC class compared to WOCN. The WOCN nurses I encountered were extremely intelligent, and I thoroughly enjoyed conversing with them. Unfortunately, until I get my BSN, im stuck as a WCC.

With that being said, I recommend the WCC program. If you have your BSN, you should go the WOCN route. Good luck!

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I would not advise investing that $ amount in that particular course. I have experience managing wound care for a large company which has investigated different avenues of providing wound education for clinicians. We opted for the WTA (Wound Treatment Associate) course through WOCN. It is a much better value and through a well established organization. CMS (Medicare) follows WOCN wound care guidelines. Our company sent WCC's back through the WTA course and they all acknowledged that it was more comprehensive. As a "well seasoned" CWOCN" my biggest problem with WCC is that it sets unrealistic expectations for attendees AND their employers. This is not a specialist level of preparation and those who complete the course should not be held to the same expectations as a CWOCN or CWS. As evidenced by an earlier comment, they don't realize how much there still is to learn and in many cases have not been made aware of their limitations. Any education is good - I just believe that you can get better value for your expense.

As far as the future of wound care, I think that your opportunities will continue to grow, especially when ICD 10 requires much more specificity related to wound assessment and documentation. I wish you the best and admire your enthusiasm.

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I've been a CWOCN for 19 years. When researching wound care education options for a nationwide home care agency, we found the best value and most comprehensive education to be the WTA (Wound Treatment Associate) Program, which was developed by the WOCN Society. After leaving that company, my colleague and I have continued to offer this course for the following reasons:

*WOCN is the gold standard for wound education and is referenced by CMS for expert opinion

*It is approx 1/2 or less the cost of the other program

*It combines on-line and hands on education

*Meets educational requirements for participant to become certified as WTA-C through the WOCNCB (Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse Certification Board)

*Is an excellent gateway for pursuit of CWOCN

*Appropriate for LPN/LVN and associate/diploma RNs as well as BSN and NP

* the list goes on....

Good luck to you and congratulations for continuing to seek education.

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I plan to take this soon. To become certified you have to show previous experience or work with a certified nurse. I have been reading the Wocn textbook from Amaon to prepare. If you don't have a bsn and don't live or work near the wta sites or Emory... go for wcc. It's nothing to be ashamed of.

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I plan to take this soon. To become certified you have to show previous experience or work with a certified nurse. I have been reading the Wocn textbook from Amaon to prepare. If you don't have a bsn and don't live or work near the wta sites or Emory... go for wcc. It's nothing to be ashamed of.

I wish you the best in your pursuit of wound care education, Alma.

I think that you might be surprised to learn that there are providers of the WTA Course who are willing to come to your location for an individual participant to do the hands on portion for about half the cost of pursuing WCC.

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