INAUGURAL WOC ANNUAL MEETING
The North American Association of Enterostomal Therapy, the first professional specialty organization, was established and held its first annual meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, with 21 attendees!
OUR HISTORY
Explore the storied past of the WOCN Society, including our roots, significant milestones, and fun facts
that make us the largest and most recognized organization in our field.
THE LEGACY OF THE WOCN SOCIETY
Discover the critical milestones in our history through this timeline.
- 1968
- 1972
- 1975
- 1978
- 1992
- 1995
- 2005
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- NOW
1968
1972
ORIGINAL WOC NURSING JOURNAL
IAET Quarterly became the official journal for the WOC care profession, which is now the Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing (JWOCN®)!
1975
REGIONAL WOCN CHAPTERS
The concept of breaking WOCN into regions was proposed and accepted. There are currently 11 official WOCN Chapters across North America!
1978
ET FOUNDATION INCORPORATES
ET Foundation forms and incorporates. The WOCN Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation created and operated by WOCN to oversee two of our most essential pillars: research and education.
1992
IAET EVOLVES INTO THE WOCN SOCIETY
The IAET officially evolved into the WOCN Society. Today, we’re the largest and most recognized professional nursing community dedicated to advancing the practice and delivery of WOC care.
1995
WEBSITE & DISCUSSION COMMUNITIES
The WOCN website and separate discussion communities were created for professional practice, wounds, ostomies, and continence topics.
2005
THE WOCN SOCIETY JOINS ANA
WOCN joined the ANA as an organizational affiliate with 14 other specialty nursing organizations, and the ANA recognized the WOC nursing specialty.
2018
50 YEARS FOR THE WOCN SOCIETY
The WOCN Society celebrated its fiftieth anniversary and 50th Annual Conference. Established in 1968, WOCN was initially named the North American Association of Enterostomal Therapy.
2019
ANNUAL CONFERENCE REBRANDED
After celebrating the 50th Annual Conference in 2018, the WOCN Society rebranded their Annual Conference to WOCNext.
2020
FIRST VIRTUAL-ONLY ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The WOCN Society hosted its first-ever virtual-only annual conference, WOCNext 2020: Reimagined. Initially, as a response to COVID-19, the virtual component remains a crucial event feature of WOCNext.
2022
ICD-10 CM CODES FOR IRRITANT CONTACT DERMATITIS
The WOCN Society obtained approval from the ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee on its application for new ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes for Irritant Contact Dermatitis.
2023
FELLOW PROGRAM ESTABLISHED
The WOCN Society initiated the WOCN Fellow Program in June 2023, recognizing nursing excellence with its inaugural class induction. This stands as the highest honor awarded by the WOCN Society.
2024
MENTOR MATCH PROGRAM
The WOCN Society began piloting a Mentor Match Program as a tool for professional growth, personal development, and organizational success. This unique online tool will help members find, connect, and share experiences with other members in the WOC care field. Look for more information coming soon!
NOW
HELP US CONTINUE TO ADVANCE!
Our rich history is thanks to our large community of supporters. Help us continue to make a difference by exploring our upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and more.
THE ROOTS OF WOC NURSING
Discover the origins of WOC nursing and the pioneers who laid the foundation for our field.
ENTEROSTOMAL THERAPIST
RUPERT TURNBULL, JR., MD, COINED THE TERM “ENTEROSTOMAL THERAPIST (ET)”.
WORLD’S FIRST OSTOMY NURSE
NORMA GILL WAS THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL ET AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC IN 1958.
FIRST-EVER WOC NURSING PROGRAM
RUPERT TURNBULL, JR., MD, AND NORMA GILL OPENED THE FIRST WOC NURSING PROGRAM IN THE WORLD.
VERY FIRST WOC CERTIFICATION
THE ENTEROSTOMAL THERAPY NURSING CERTIFICATION BOARD OFFERED THE FIRST WOC CERTIFICATION IN 1979.
SCOPE OF WOC NURSING EVOLVES
THE SCOPE OF WOC NURSING EXPANDED IN 1982 TO WOUND, URINARY, AND FECAL CONTINENCE DISORDERS.
RN LICENSURE BECOMES REQUIRED
RN LICENSURE BECAME REQUIRED FOR ENTRY INTO AN ET NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM.
FUN FACTS ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION
Get an inside look at our organization with these quick, fun facts.
We have over 6,000 members, making us the largest and most recognized professional nursing community dedicated to advancing WOC care.
We have 11 chapters throughout North America.
Our Continuing Education Center (CEC) offers 50+ online courses totaling 35+ Contact Hours, all free for members.
We host an award-winning podcast, WOCTalk, with more than 150 episodes published.
We publish a peer-reviewed scientific journal with select issues available in Mandarin/Chinese.
We actively engage with lawmakers and stakeholders to shape healthcare policies, leading to significant advancements in WOC care legislation and improved patient outcomes.
We support the next generation of WOC nurses through the WOCN Foundation & Scholarship Program.
We provide 6 online clinical tools, some available in multiple languages.
Our WOCN Bookstore includes essential resources for the WOC nursing practice.
We help members advance their nursing careers through the WOCN Career Center.
We facilitate peer-to-peer networking through our online communities and virtual events.
We offer 8 accredited WOC Nursing Education Programs (WOCNEPs) both domestically and internationally.
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YEAR IN REVIEW
See what the past year had in store for us with a letter from our president and highlights from our annual report.
VIEW REPORT
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE HISTORY WITH US?
Learn about our various membership types and benefits.