Soon to be new grad RN - Interested in wound care /dermatology

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Specializes in Medical Surgical, Orthopedic Trauma, Wound Care.

Me: Soon-to-be new grad

Degree: BSN

State: Arizona

Status: Doing great and loving school

When considering career direction - I find myself super interested in wounds, skin, and the integumentary system. (My dream job would be to eventually become an NP or PA in Dermatology down-the-line). This is the area that gets me most excited.

I have viewed the WOCN website to see what further education I might need to get certified in for wound care. The site listed about 6 out-of-state schools. :unsure: I digress. I really want to know the following.

1.) Are you a wound care nurse, and how did you achieve this?

1.) Is it possible for an entry level new graduate to get hired into wound/ostomy care as they work towards their certification? Have you or anyone you've known done it?

2.) Are there any options for RNs in dermatology, other than botox and esthetics? I can't seem to find much information.

Thanks for any helpful info you can share.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical, Orthopedic Trauma, Wound Care.

I just realized I've placed this topic in "general student" - not the best forum group since I am looking for information from experienced working nurses. I am not sure how to move it to a more appropriate forum without reposting it again.

Moderator, you are welcome to move it to general nursing, Arizona nursing or wherever you see best. Thank you.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

1.) Is it possible for an entry level new graduate to get hired into wound/ostomy care as they work towards their certification? Have you or anyone you've known done it?

I have a good friend who hired straight on to the wound/ostomy team right after we graduated. Since she knew that's the area she wanted, she made a point of networking with the wound team while we were in clinicals. She impressed them with her enthusiasm for wound care and she was hired the day she passed NCLEX. Their rationale was that they'd get her fresh out of school and could train her in the way they care for wounds.

Best of luck to you :D

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Your question may have stumped us because you are targeting two very different ends of the health care continuum. Nurses who specialize in wound care are primarily employed in acute/inpatient settings. They deal with ostomies and very challenging situations related to the aftermath of serious trauma & surgical complications. OTOH, dermatology is primarily an outpatient/clinic specialty - and esthetics is still very new ground for nursing practice.

So - you may want to narrow your focus a bit. If, like most newly licensed nurses, you need to maximize your income ASAP to deal with student loans, keep in mind that acute care jobs pay the most. In my area, physicians employ MAs and some LVNs - rarely RNs. If this is really the way you want to go, I would encourage you to see if there are any Medi-Spa jobs. These seem to be popping up all over the place, and they provide a wide range of services including fairly intensive dermal procedures and injections.

Wishing you the best of luck on launching your nursing career.

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I'm a third semester student, and I'm also really interested in wound/ostomy/continence nursing when I graduate and get my RN. Best of luck to you, and let me know if you hear anything that sounds promising!

I've jumped at the chance to run in during any wound care or ostomy care during clinicals and am planning on contacting the WOC nurses at my local hospitals after I finish this semester! I'm glad I have a kindred spirit in wound care!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical, Orthopedic Trauma, Wound Care.

SopranoKris, That's positive news. Thank you. I will work on my networking and research. :)

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Specializes in Medical Surgical, Orthopedic Trauma, Wound Care.

Houtx, I appreciate your input! You are right in that I need to narrow my focus! I am in the research stage of my interest(s) and gathering as much info as possible on both. However, looking back, I probably could have made this 2 threads instead of one, to help with clarification.

I am not too concerned with pay or facility type as much as I am with finding and doing my passion!

I do believe I am leaning more towards WOC nursing at the moment.

Thank you for your guidance and time.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical, Orthopedic Trauma, Wound Care.

TinyNurse2be - good luck to you as well! Stay positive and kind! ~Starreacher26

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I've been a WOC nurse since 1983, you need nursing experience before applying to a WOCNEP (wound ostomy continence nurse education program). Most of the programs have an online option. There are numerous opportunities for this nursing specialty. Find a WOC Nurse initiate a conversation (don't be shy, we are a "different" kind of nurse and usually welcome an interest in our profession.) There are also WTA (Wound Treatment Associate) Programs. Check it out on the WOCN.org website.

I have a CWOCN (Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse) friend who works in a Dermatology Clinic (she is also an NP) is respected by the doctors and has her own practice)

PS: I'm also an NP and have worked in hospitals, home health, and nursing homes. Lots of demand out there

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Specializes in Medical Surgical, Orthopedic Trauma, Wound Care.

OldandcrankyRN - Very good information in your re :) Thank you for that. I will take note of your pointers! I accept that I will need floor/bedside experience first. I will plan to search out some WOC nurses this Spring break or Summer and initiate some conversations. Just tonight I applied for membership with WOCN under "STUDENT" status. So I look forward to educating myself with all the info. Exciting stuff.

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