wound care certification ?

Specialties Wound

Published

Hello, i want to become wound certified, i have a bsn i am in ct. i wonder there is the WOCN, The wound ostomy continence cert,

then there is the WCC wound care cert. and they the certified wound specialist

is one better than another and why? are any not recognized? thanks

With your experience you would be a great asset to your patients and there families. visit www.wocn.org you can work towards ostomy sertification seperately. I work acute care and we can always use more ostomy nurses

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WOCN is a Specialty now, if you have your bachelors in nursing I would get my WOCN!!!!!! If you have associates get your WCC.

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I am a CWON and just took the WCEI class and passed the WCC exam. I was taken back by the class and how much information they provided that was actually on the exam. I was told they don't know what is on the exam by the instructor, but, they most definitely do and it was quite obvious. The workbook provides most everything you need to know. A CNA could pass this WCC exam right out of school after taking the class. So, if you want the 'EASY' wound care certification credential, go to the WCEI program. If you want to challenge yourself and treat your patients based on experience and not what you learned in a few days, then I would go WOCN.

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Debonair,

The national testing organization for the WCC is the National Alliance of Wound Care. Your posted information is incorrect. The WCC is also nationally accredited by the same organiation that accredited the WOCN credentials.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I am taking the Wound Care Educators certification class online. Seems too easy, but I am studying the textbook very hard as well.

How hard is the exam?

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For those of you who are wound care certified, do any on you do it as a business, or are you employed at a hospital or nursing home, etc?

I am considering taking a wound care certified program, but before I invest in it, I want to know if it is worth it, and if there is a market for an Independant Contractor. I do not want to do it to be an employee at a hospital or nursing home.

And which program do you think is the best at an economic price? Thanks!

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Someplace in the PACNW

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I've been a CWOCN since 1995, and while ostomies constituted only about 25% of my practice, I found that overall, that has given me the greatest professional satisfaction as far as making a really huge and positive difference in my patients' lives, and in their families' lives. As a Certified ostomy nurse, your job is to TEACH the patient/family to be independent in the management of their ostomy. You teach using demonstration and return demo above all, but not entirely. You trouble-shoot and determine the best pouching system. You teach how to obtain ostomy supplies and set them up with responsive vendors. You advocate with their surgeon and their suppliers. Surgeons have no idea how to manage ostomies; that's why ostomy certification came into being. You also do a HUGE amount of teaching to nursing staff and nursing students--that's key, since we aren't there 24 hrs/day.

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Cindy was my instructor too, and I loved her!! Fantastic people, so enthusiastic, and definately supportive!!

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Specializes in medical device.
I am a CWON and just took the WCEI class and passed the WCC exam. I was taken back by the class and how much information they provided that was actually on the exam. I was told they don't know what is on the exam by the instructor, but, they most definitely do and it was quite obvious. The workbook provides most everything you need to know. A CNA could pass this WCC exam right out of school after taking the class. So, if you want the 'EASY' wound care certification credential, go to the WCEI program. If you want to challenge yourself and treat your patients based on experience and not what you learned in a few days, then I would go WOCN.

With prevention and positive outcomes being the goal for all patients with wounds , it has been proven that a multidisciplinary approach is what brings about the best results. No matter what the credentials, multiple clinicians with a passion for the patient, a passion for wound care and prevention can bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the bedside. Often times I have seen "out of the box" thinking bring about "the cure" vs SOC. The more clinicians, at every level, interested in wound care the better. :yeah:

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With prevention and positive outcomes being the goal for all patients with wounds , it has been proven that a multidisciplinary approach is what brings about the best results. No matter what the credentials, multiple clinicians with a passion for the patient, a passion for wound care and prevention can bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the bedside. Often times I have seen "out of the box" thinking bring about "the cure" vs SOC. The more clinicians, at every level, interested in wound care the better. :yeah:

.....i believe your statement. i am not certified as a wound care specialist but i have been in the area for 3 years. and from my own experience, wound care is interdisciplinary. and it's not just slapping a wound with dressing/s. it's how you understand its status. nutrition, offloading, protecting patient from external mechanical forces, increasing tissue tolerance, providing ongoing education on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment with staff. it doesn't really matter to me if i'm certified or not as long as am doing my best...and DAMN!!!, i wish patients are more responsible and compliant....

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Specializes in telemetry, cardiopulmonary stepdown, LTC. Hospice.

I'm considering getting my WCC through NAWC, as I have my associates and don't really wish to get get my bachelors. I worked as a critical care nurse for two years, and on a solid organ transplant floor for 6 months, and also did about 2 months extra work at our hospital's wound care center. I found I really enjoyed the wound care! Currently I am working in a long term care setting, and there is wound care to be done there as well. From what I am reading on the application, I need two years in the last 4 of documented wound care experience. I guess that means like what I had on the hospital floor, right? I did wound care, teaching, etc, just not every single day. It was part of the other nursing I was doing. That qualifies, right?

I would also like to find out about working as an independent contractor in wound care to nursing homes in my area. I'd really like to get out of day to day patient care and focus on wound care in particular. Any advice?

Thanks!

Cara

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Specializes in telemetry, cardiopulmonary stepdown, LTC. Hospice.

P.S. The class is over 3,000 bucks???

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