About Us / News
NPUAP's 12th National Biennial Conference
The NPUAP's 12th National Biennial Conference, Emerging Healthcare Issues, is being held February 25-26, 2011 in Las Vegas!
Two concurrent conferences on Best Practice and Consensus will address prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers in the context of emerging healthcare issues.
2010 Election Results
The 2010 election results are in and your newly elected WOCN leaders were officially sworn into office during the 2010 WOCN/WCET Joint Conference in Phoenix. Congratulations to the following elected WOCN members:
Secretary: Phyllis Kupsick (incumbent), MSN, FNP-BC, CWOCN
Treasurer: Ben Peirce (incumbent), BA, RN, CWOCN
Director Area #2: Carole Bauer, ANP-BC, MSN, OCN, CWOCN
Director Area #4: Regina Holmes, RN, MSN, CWOCN, CFCN
*Nominations …
Now Available! Management of the Patient with a Fecal Ostomy: Best Practice for Clinicians
The Society has published a guideline for managing patients with fecal ostomies, the first publication of its kind. The guideline supports clinical practice by providing consistent research-based information designed to improve cost-effective patient outcomes and encourage ostomy-related research. Input from a panel of WOCN members and consulting colorectal surgeons drove the process. The publication covers the following …
Now Available! The revised Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers
The previously published guideline has been updated to provide consistent, evidence-based information about pressure ulcers, as well as an overview covering the background, significance and physiological aspects of pressure ulcers. Also presented is the etiology of pressure ulcers, overall management goals, and recommendations for prevention and treatment. Guideline includes an algorithm to determine wound etiology, a comprehensive …
Purchase a Copy of the WOC Nursing Scope & Standards of Practice
ANA Rules Favorably on WOCN Society Request
Wound, Ostomy and Continence (WOC) nursing is one of the newest specialties recognized by the American Nurses Association (ANA). The Wound Ostomy & Continence Nursing Society (WOCN) was recently notified of the ANA's decision. The Association, which represents the interests of more than 3.1 million nurses in the United States, advances the profession by …
Guidance on OASIS Skin and Wound
The WOCN Society has developed the following guidelines for classification of wounds within OASIS-C. These items were developed by consensus among the WOCN's panel of content experts.
Download WOCN Guidance on OASIS-C
Resources:
CMS OASIS-C Guidance Manual, Chapter 1 – Introduction
CMS OASIS-C Guidance Manual, Chapter 3 Item-by-item guidance
OASIS Educational Coordinators – Find your local OASIS Educational Coordinator
“OASIS-B1 to …
New Global Learning Center Courses Available!
New Courses…
Eight new courses are now available through the WOCN Global Learning Center:
- The How-To's of Neonatal and Pediatric Ostomy Care
- Managing Peristomal and Stoma Complications (read below)
- Post Thrombotic Syndrome-Prevention, Diagnosis, Management and the Relationship to DVT
- Suspected Deep Tissue Injuries – An Examination of 200 Cases
- What …
Portable Instructional Education (PIE) - Acute Care 1st Edition
Acute Care PIE
Acute Care PIE is an organized collection of WOCN educational tools aimed to assist practitioners to: train staff, provide quick assessment tools, print patient care documents and learn the best techniques for care of patients with wound, ostomy, and continence needs. Over 100 resources available to download including information on wound assessment and treatment, ostomy fundamentals, incontinence dermatitis, ...
WOC for Wellness
“WOC” this way!
In an effort to show their support towards future WOC nurses, ConvaTec, Inc. and the WOCN Society have teamed up to bring you the “WOC for Wellness” Campaign.
At the 2010 WOCN/WCET Joint Conference in Phoenix, registered participants will “WOC” with the goal of raising support for the WOCN Scholarship Fund. ...
Indwelling Urinary Catheters: Best Practice for Clinicians
Indwelling Urinary Catheters: Best Practice for Clinicians
This 52-page document is intended for clinicians and outlines a wealth of best practice information about indwelling urinary catheters, including indications and contraindications, equipment, catheter management, catheter complications and their possible solutions, patient education and other concerns surrounding the use of indwelling urinary catheters.
Posted: December 9, 2009
Haiti Disaster Relief Information
Hello WOCN members. We have compiled some information about opportunities about contributions and volunteerism in case any of you wish to participate in efforts for assistance to those in need in Haiti after the devastating earthquakes.
ANA Situation Report: Haiti Earthquate 1/28/10
The Haitian Ministry of Health (Health Cluster in Haiti, Bulletin #9) is reporting the following:Reports indicate that almost all people …
2010 Building Awareness for Nurses Week
April 18-24, 2010 is Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Week and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society has created materials to increase awareness of this observance. WOCN is providing a poster and patient brochure, and these reinforce the 2010 theme, Place Your Care in the Hands of an Expert.
Read poem written …
Free Contact Hours Available
Numerous free contact hours now available through the WOCN Global Learning Center. Take advantage of 1, 2, or all 3 of the courses offered:
- Painless Accelerated Healing – 1.2 Contact Hours
- Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis and Other Code Brown Hazards – 1.28 Contact Hours
- Marketing your Credentials – 1.2 Contact Hours
If you're a first time visitor …
2009 Research Grant Recipients
The 2009 Research Grant Recipients are listed below; for full small grant awardee descriptions and details please click here.
Thank you to those who submitted research proposals and congratulations to the recipients below.
Research Grant: WOCN Members' Research Grant
Grant Recipient: Janet Doyle-Munoz, BSN, RN, CWON
Grant Title: The Efficacy of Gum Chewing in Reducing Postoperative IleusResearch Grant: 3M-WOCN Research Grant: Studies of …
Free Webcasts...
Now available on the Global Learning Center are two free webcasts on Catheter Associated Tract Infections and Pressure Ulcer Assessment. These non-CEU sessions, developed by the WOCN Continence and Wound Committees, include a PowerPoint with audio.
These webcasts are based on the WOCN CAUTI Fact Sheet and Pressure Ulcer Assessment: Best Practice for Clinicians document.
Click here to …
New Position Paper on Avoidable versus Unavoidable Pressure Ulcers
The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) is introducing its position paper on the topic of avoidable and unavoidable pressure ulcers.
The recent change in prospective payment for facility-acquired pressure ulcers in hospitals and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service's definition of avoidable and unavoidable pressures ulcer in the long-term care setting have brought to the forefront the …
New Position Statement on Stoma Marking
The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society collaborated with the American Urology Association (AUA) in late 2007 and 2008 to develop a position paper about the importance of preoperative stoma siting for individuals undergoing incontinent urostomy surgery. This document was based on the position statement the WOCN Society and the ASCRS developed in 2007
Visit the Brand New Global Learning Center
Get ready for a brand new, fully redesigned WOCN Global Learning Center. The new look site will contain all of the existing courses, new courses, webcasts, along with a new interactive course on Fistula Management (see sample below and click on “Let Me Try” or actual supplies).
If you've signed up or have previously taken courses through the current GLC, ...
Inpatient Prospective Payment Changes: A Guide for the WOC Nurse
Introduction
On October 1, 2007, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a transformational change in how hospitals will be paid. This change involves the implementation of a new payment system that will reward hospitals for quality care and avoids payment for unnecessary and preventable costs.
Many questions and uncertainties have been posed regarding the impact this change will have …
New Fact Sheet - Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections
Recent alterations in reimbursement policies from CMS have profoundly changed the way acute care facilities go about tracking, diagnosing and preventing multiple hospital acquired conditions. Now more than ever, hospitals are turning to experts such as you to aid them to determine effective prevention programs to address the “Big 12”, including hospital acquired pressure ulcers. However, did you know …
2009 Building Awareness for WOC Nurse Week
April 12 – 18, 2009
During Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Week, April 12 through April 18, the Society will recognize WOC nurses for the services they provide to millions of patients who endure non-healing wounds, ostomies, and urinary and fecal incontinence. But with nearly 60 percent of WOCN members nearing retirement age, the Society is asking: “How can the WOCN ...
New Position Statement on Pressure Ulcer Staging
The WOCN Society supports universally recognized terminology and descriptors in the staging of pressure ulcers. The WOCN Society recognizes the importance of staging in the management of acute and chronic pressure ulcers. Accurate assessment, reassessment and documentation are critical for providing evidence of healing, failure to heal or deterioration. Effective communication regarding pressure ulcer staging requires the use of accurate …
2008 Salary and Productivity Survey
Thanks to each of you who participated in our 2008 WOC Nursing Salary and Productivity Survey. In October 2008, a link to an online survey questionnaire was emailed to approximately 4,560 WOCN members. In total, 1,586 completed survey forms were submitted by the end of October, representing a response rate of slightly under 35 percent.
The information contained in the survey …
Important Links
WOCN FEED
- NPUAP's 12th National Biennial Conference
- 2010 Election Results
- Now Available! Management of the Patient with a Fecal Ostomy: Best Practice for Clinicians
- Now Available! The revised Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers
- Purchase a Copy of the WOC Nursing Scope & Standards of Practice
- Guidance on OASIS Skin and Wound