by Alex M. Aningalan, MSN, RN, CWON, WCC

Editor’s Note: This blog has been written in celebration of WOC Nurse week, April 17-23, 2022.

Background

The American Nurses Association (ANA) officially recognized the practice field of wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) as a nursing specialty in February 2010.^1,2 Tracing its roots back to 1958, Norma Gill Thompson, in partnership with Rupert Turnbull, laid the foundation for this highly specialized role.^1,2 Today, WOC nursing practice is considered a highly focused nursing specialty anchored in evidence-based practice and excellence in prevention and management of complex wound, ostomy, and continence problems.^1,2

WOC Nursing’s Mission and Structure

WOC nursing is rooted in three core values: integrity, leadership, and knowledge.¹ The WOC nursing specialty is exemplified through multifaceted roles as clinicians, educators, consultants, researchers, administrators, preceptors, and leaders across all health care populations, health care and community settings, and academia.¹

Furthermore, there are two distinct bodies involved in the practice of WOC nursing. The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®) is a professional nursing society that supports its members to advance their practice and guide the delivery of expert health care to individuals with wounds, ostomies, and incontinence.³ In contrast, the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB®) is a professional organization dedicated to the promotion of high standards of consumer care and safety by providing expert credentialing in WOC nursing.³

Why CWOCN Nurses Are Not Only Important, But Indispensable

Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses (CWOCN®) demonstrate their commitment to and knowledge of WOC nursing practice through stringent academic and clinical preparation by ultimately passing a comprehensive single-, dual-, or triple-specialty certification awarded by the WOCNCB®.⁴

Lower Rates of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injury

To date, the WOCNCB® has provided certification to more than 9,000 nurses. This number is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the CWOCN®.⁴ Moreover, Boyle et al⁵ reported that hospitals that employ CWOCNs®, CWCNs®, and CWONs® had lower hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) rates and improved pressure injury risk assessment and prevention practices.⁵ These investigators further reported that WOCNCB®-Certified Nurses are essential to achieve improved HAPI outcomes in acute care settings.⁵

Invaluable for Complex Wound Management

A systematic review conducted by Heerschap et al⁶ emphasized the value of Certified WOC Nurses. It has been reported that including Certified WOC Nurses in patient care can improve the quality of life of patients, improve complex wound care outcomes, and advance treatment modalities.⁴ In the field of complex wound management, Certified WOC nurses are well versed in the provision of care and management of acute and chronic wounds such as pressure injuries, venous, arterial, or neuropathic wounds, traumatic wounds, thermal injuries, and surgical wounds, along with other inflammatory and infectious disease processes that may lead to wound development such as cancer, calciphylaxis, necrotizing fasciitis, and so on.¹

The added value a Certified WOC Nurse brings to a health care organization includes:

• The provision of expert teaching and mentorship to both professional colleagues and patient populations
• The improvement of health care and organizational efficiency
• The provision of opportunities for ongoing research and evidence-based practice
• The presence of leadership across the health care continuum⁶

Conclusion

To recognize the impact of Certified WOC Nurses across communities and populations, the WOCN® will celebrate WOC Nurse Week on April 17-23, 2022.⁷ This annual event is a special time to celebrate and promote the value of Certified WOC Nurses across the multifaceted population and communities they serve.⁷ With an understanding of the value WOC Nurses bring to wound care practices, this week and hopefully this discussion are reminders of the importance of not only WOC certification but also continuing education.

References

1. Murphree RW, Jaszarowski K. Professional practice for wound, ostomy, and continence nursing. In: McNichol LL, Ratliff CR, Yates SS, eds. Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society Core Curriculum: Wound Management. 2nd edition. Wolters Kluwer; 2022:1-11.
2. Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society Task Force.. Wound, ostomy, and continence nursing: scope and standards of WOC practice, 2nd edition: an executive summary. J Wound, Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2018;45(4):369-387. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000438
3. Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society, Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board. WOCN Society and WOCNCB Position Statement: WOCN Registered Trademark Use Guidelines. 2018.
4. Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board. Wound, ostomy, and continence certification. Accessed March 31, 2022. https://www.wocncb.org/certification/wound-ostomy-continence
5. Boyle DK, Bergquist-Beringer S, Cramer E. Relationship of wound, ostomy, and continence certified nurses and healthcare-acquired conditions in acute care hospitals. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2017;44(3):283-292. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000327
6. Heerschap C, Duff V. The value of nurses specialized in wound, ostomy, and continence: a systematic review. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2021;34(10):551-559. doi:10.1097/01.ASW.0000790468.10881.90
7. Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society. WOC Nurse Week 2022. Accessed March 31, 2022. https://www.wocn.org/wocnurseweek2022/