What is involved in getting wound certified?

classicdame, MSN, EdD · May 31, 2013

Seems like an expensive prospect for ALL nurses to be certified. Different associations have varying certificiation requirements. Some allow you to be an ADN, some require BSN or even MSN. You will have to research the certifying organizations. Makes more sense to me to have a limited number of people certified, and then have those people + MD's write policies and procedures for the rest of the nurses to follow, based on whatever evidence is out there. Vendors like Medline (skin care products) offer all sorts of customer service assistance. I get them and the people who supply our wound vacs or ostomy supplies or anything associated with skin care to come out and do in-services.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · May 31, 2013

Thread move to wound care nursing forum in specialty section.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · May 31, 2013

Review this FAQ thread for more information: https://allnurses.com/wound-ostomy-continence/wound-care-certification-764249.html

amoLucia · May 31, 2013

To OP - I give you credit & my admiration. I am NOT a wound person! Just tell me what to do and I'll do the drsg. But on 11-7, I don't do wounds freq enough, so I don't have the in-depth exposure with the vocabulary needed. I'm not good with skin rashes either, so I'm glad you're out there.

As classicdame points out, certification usually incurs costs in time & money and that would be rather expensive. Perhaps your mgt just wants your staff CEU-inserviced professionally? And I would check to see if your agency will be reimbursing you for your effort.

mommy.19, MSN, RN, APRN · Jun 2, 2013

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!

RNnbakes · Jun 11, 2013

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 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!

The Webwoc and Emory courses cost about $6,500 so I dont think it is cost effective to send all your nurses to school for that amount of money each.

mommy.19, MSN, RN, APRN · Jun 12, 2013

The Webwoc and Emory courses cost about $6,500 so I dont think it is cost effective to send all your nurses to school for that amount of money each.

That's for tri specialty. What I meant is at least one nurse should hold this cert, in lieu of sending everyone to a $3,000 'certification'.

RiverNurse · Jun 12, 2013

I did the distance learning option for my CWCN last year. Back then, that module for the didactic portion only was $1200.00 (not including registration fees, books, clinicals, lodging). I attended bridge week there - technically three days for the wound scope, bit the bullet and stayed an extra week to do my clinicals at a local wound care clinic. I am considering (due to work requirements) finishing the ostomy and continence portions. Now, the modules are $1500.00 each. This time I will still have to attend bridge week, but will do my clinicals in my locale. When all is said and done, the approximate cost for my education will be right around $6000.00 - ballpark estimate - factoring in hotel costs and food.