What does a WOC nurse do?

Asked By: Salesa Fiks | Last Updated: 20th May, 2020
Category: medical health first aid
4.1/5 (30 Views . 44 Votes)
WOC nurses provide direct care to people with abdominal stomas, wounds, fistulas, drains, pressure injuries, and/or continence disorders. The WOC nurse's knowledge, leadership and commitment to caring make it happen. And for support, continuing education and professional resources, WOC nurses turn to the WOCN Society.

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Regarding this, how much does a WOC nurse make?

The median salary of a WOC nurse is $64,000 – 69,000 per year, with a range of $41,700 – $83,000.

One may also ask, how do I become a WOC nurse? Eligibility

  1. Complete a WOC Nursing Education Program that is accredited by WOCN.
  2. Candidates are required to successfully complete exam(s) within five years of graduation from a Wound, Ostomy, Continence Education Program.
  3. The Nursing Education Program must be accredited at the time of graduation.

Likewise, what is the role of a wound care nurse?

Wound care nurses assess, treat, and create care plans for patients with complex wounds, ostomies, and/or continence conditions. Wound care nurses also help educate and provide care instructions for patients and families.

What does Wocn stand for?

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society

25 Related Question Answers Found

How long does it take to become a wound care nurse?

Most employers prefer you have some type of wound care certification. These certification programs typically take 2-3 months to complete (includes lecture and clinical time). After completing the program you must pass a certification exam in the specialty you choose to earn.

How much does a treatment nurse make?

Wound Care Nurse Salary & Employment
Things like location, education level, and experience will undoubtedly affect the salary of a WOC nurse. With that said, the median salary of a wound care nurse is $64,076 with a range of $41,701 - $83,160.

What is an ostomy nurse called?

When to Contact Your Stoma Care Nurse. Your stoma care nurse has the specialized training to help you care for your ostomy and address any issues that arise. These professionals are also known as “WOC” (wound, ostomy, and continence) nurses.

How long does it take to get a wound care certification?

In order to obtain wound care certification you must have at least 3 years of wound care experience (If you are a nurse with a Bachelor's degree and do not have three years of experience, determine if you are eligible via the experiential pathway through the WOCNCB).

Which wound care certification is best?


Accredited ABWM® Wound Care Certifications
  • The CWCA® Certified Wound Care Associate.
  • The CWS® Certified Wound Specialist.
  • The CWSP® Certified Wound Specialist Physician.
  • The WCC® Wound Care Certified.
  • The CWCN® Certified Wound Care Nurse.

How do I find an ostomy nurse?

Find in your local area a Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN), certified ostomy nurse, or Ostomy Care Associate (OCA) through the certification programs at the WOCN Society.

How do I become a LVN wound care certified?

  1. Hold a current, active LVN/LPN or RN license.
  2. Complete 24 Continuing Education hours (CEs) specific to wound care within the past 12 months meeting the WTA Detailed Content Outline previous to the date of application.
  3. Complete 160 hours of clinical preceptorship within the past 12 months.

Can an LPN get certified in wound care?

Wound Care Certification for LPNs/LVNs
LPNs and LVNs with three years of clinical experience and at least a high school diploma are eligible to take the national wound care certification examination. The test fee for the wound certification examination is $375 (this fee is not included in the price of the course.)

Do wound care nurses make more money?

Employees with Wound Care Nurse in their job title in San Diego, California earn an average of 29.9% more than the national average. These job titles also find higher than average salaries in Phoenix, Arizona (14.3% more) and Houston, Texas (12.6% more).

How do you manage wounds?


Home care for minor wounds
First, wash and disinfect the wound to remove all dirt and debris. Use direct pressure and elevation to control bleeding and swelling. When wrapping the wound, always use a sterile dressing or bandage. Very minor wounds may heal without a bandage.

What does wound care involve?

A wound care center, or clinic, is a medical facility for treating wounds that do not heal. You may have a non-healing wound if it: Has not started to heal in 2 weeks.

How do you change a sterile dressing?

Changing Your Dressing
  1. Put on a new pair of non-sterile gloves.
  2. Pour saline into a clean bowl.
  3. Squeeze the saline from the gauze pads or packing tape until it is no longer dripping.
  4. Place the gauze pads or packing tape in your wound.
  5. Cover the wet gauze or packing tape with a large dry dressing pad.

Why wound care is important?

Wound care is important because chronic wounds can have serious consequences. Non-healing wounds require specialized care because underlying, complex conditions prevent the wound from going through the expected healing stages.

How do you chart a wound assessment?

  1. 12 Components of Wound Assessment.
  2. Identify location of wound. ¦
  3. Determine etiology of wound. ¦
  4. Determine wound classification and/or stage.
  5. Measure size of wound (length, width, and depth)
  6. Measure amount of wound tunneling and undermining.
  7. Assess the wound bed.
  8. Assess wound exudate.

How much does a wound care LPN make?


National Average
Salary Range (Percentile)
25th Average
Annual Salary $55,000 $70,953
Monthly Salary $4,583 $5,913
Weekly Salary $1,058 $1,364

What is PHN degree?

To enroll in a public health nursing (PHN) certificate program, applicants must have a current registered nurse (RN) license. There are associate's degree programs that qualify candidates for the RN license, and many PHN-focused programs lead to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

How do you become a certified wound specialist?

Certified Wound Specialist® (CWS®)
  1. A licensed healthcare professional with a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree and 3 or more years of clinical wound care experience.
  2. A licensed RN with an Associate's degree and 3 or more years of clinical wound care experience.

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