Wound Care Nurse EducationDiane L. Krasner PhD, RN, FAAN

& Lia van Rijswijk DNP, MSN, RN, CWCN

Professional Practice Module #1

A bright futureas a wound care nurse

awaits you!

Wound Care Nurse

Wound Care Nurse

Wound Care Nurse

There are many paths from which to choose: Which one is best for you?

Your Best Path Depends on:• Your personal and professional situation– Available time and financial resources– Educational Background– Licensure– Employment status and prospects

• Your personal and professional goals and needs (e.g., certification options)

CertificationNot all Wound Care Education programs lead to

Certification.

Consider your employment status and prospects.Most employers prefer or require Wound Care Nurses who have a Certification

For more information about Wound Care Nurse Certifications, see:

WWC? Professional Practice Module 2For more information about Wound Care Physician Certification, see Why

Wound Care? for Medical Students

Now it’s time to compare some paths & programs

Wound Care Nurse

Wound Care Nurse

Wound Care Nurse

Caution:The following list is a sampling of options and is not intended to be

all-inclusive

Contact information and websites are listed at the end of this presentation

Wound –Related Professional Designations and Acronyms & Wound-Related

Educational Program Providers & Wound Certification Providers are presented in the

following slides:

Wound –Related Professional Designations & Acronyms

CWCA

CWCN

CWOCN

CWS

Certified Wound Care AssociateCertified Wound Care NurseCertified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse

Certified Wound Specialist

Wound–Related Professional Designations & Acronyms –

ContinuedWCC

WTA

WTA-Certified

Wound Care Certified

Wound Treatment Associate

Wound Treatment Associate - Certified

Wound –Related Educational Program Providers

WCEI

WOCNNEP

WOCN

Wound Care Education Institute

Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Education Programs

Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Society

Wound CertificationProviders

ABWM

NAWCA

WOCNCB

American Board of Wound Management

National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy

Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Certification Board

Option #1 for LPNs/LVNs:

• Self-Study Books*• Online exam prep courses• In-person exam prep courses

Followed by the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM) Certified Wound Care Associate (CWCA) Certification Exam (see Module 2 for more information)*See ABWM recommended readings

Option #2 for LPNs/LVNs:

• In-person course by the Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI)

Followed by the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO) Wound Care Certified (WCC) Exam (see Module 2 for more information)

Option #3 for LPNs/LVNs:• Complete a Wound Treatment Associate

Program (WTA) from the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society (WOCN)

• Obtain 24 contact hours and certificate of completion

Option #1 for Associate Degree and Diploma RNs:• Self-Study Books*• Online exam prep courses• In-person exam prep courses

Followed by the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM) Certified Wound Care Associate (CWCA) Certification Exam (see Module 2 for more information)*See ABWM recommended readings

Option #2 for Associate Degree and Diploma RNs:

• In-person course by the Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI)

Followed by the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO) Wound Care Certified (WCC) Exam (see Module 2 for more information)

Option #3 for Associate Degree and Diploma RNs:

• Complete a Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) Program from the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society (WOCN)

• Obtain 24 contact hours and certificate of completion

Option #1 for Bachelors or Masters Prepared RNs:• Self-Study Books*• Online exam prep courses• In-person exam prep courses

Followed by the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM) Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) Certification Exam (see Module 2 for more information)*See ABWM Recommended Readings

Option #2 for Bachelors or Masters Prepared RNs:

• In-person course by the WCEI

Followed by the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO) Wound Care Certified (WCC) Exam (see Module 2 for more information)

Option #3 for Bachelors or Masters

Prepared RNs:

• In-person or On-line Wound or Wound

Ostomy Continence Nursing Education

Program (WOCNEP)

Followed by a Wound Ostomy Continence

Certification Board (WOCNCB) Certification Exam

(CWOCN, CWCN); or complete the WTA course

and consider WTA-C Certification

(see Module 2 for more information)

Option #1 for Advanced Practice Nurses (NP, CNS):• Self-Study Books*• Online exam prep courses• In-person exam prep courses

Followed by the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM) Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) Certification Exam (see Module 2 for more information)*See ABWM recommended readings

Option #2 for 1 for Advanced Practice Nurses (NP, CNS):

• In-person course by the Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI)

Followed by the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO) Wound Care Certified (WCC) Exam

(see Module 2 for more information)

Option #3 for 1 for Advanced Practice Nurses (NP, CNS): • In-person or On-line Wound or Wound

Ostomy Continence Nursing Education Program (WOCNEP)

Followed by a WOCNCB Advanced Practice Certification Exam (CWOCN-AP, CWCN-AP); or complete the WTA Course and consider WTC-A Certification (see Module 2 for more information)

Choose the best Pathway for yourself...carefully!

Wound Care NurseWound Care Nurse

Wound Care Nurse

Do your research with an eye toward your

future!!

A bright futureas a wound care nurse

awaits you!

Websites for Education and Certification Information

Why Wound Care? Resources page: https://www.whywoundcare.com/nursing/node/215

American Board of Wound Management (ABWM)www.abwmcertified.org

National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO)www.nawccb.org

Websites for Education and Certification Information

Wound Care Education Institutewww.wcei.org

Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Societywww.wocn.org

Wound Ostomy Continence Certification Boardwww.wocncb.org

Websites for Further Information on Wounds

- Association for the Advancement of Wound Carewww.aawc1.org

- Canadian Association for Wound Carewww.cawc.net

- National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panelwww.npuap.org

- World Union of Wound Healing Societieswww.wuwhs.org

- Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Societywww.wocn.org

www.WhyWoundCare.com