The management and care of patients with ostomies requires specialized knowledge and skills. As the field evolves, so too must the training and continuing education of ostomy care providers, that is why WOCN is proud to collaborate with Convatec to announce two best-in-class, free, education initiatives to enhance general ostomy care knowledge for healthcare professionals around the globe.
The two initiatives include the online Advanced Ostomy Care Program and the Ostomy Care Associates (OCA®) Program, both designed to enhance the standard of care ostomy patients receive by providing education for both specialized and non-specialized healthcare professionals. These programs* will be available in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, Poland and China in 2025, with the first programs launching in the US, UK and Ireland.
“We are grateful to Convatec for making this unique program possible. This collaboration will expand access to continuing education in ostomy care, ultimately helping individuals with ostomies benefit from current evidence-based practices and receive the optimal care they deserve”, said Vittoria (Vicky) Pontieri-Lewis, MS, RN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN, President of the WOCN Society.
About the Advanced Ostomy Care Program
The Advanced Ostomy Care Program is a curated library of complimentary, self-paced, on-demand online courses developed and administered by WOCN. The courses selected were chosen by experts in ostomy care because they will help equip healthcare providers with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to offer optimal pre-operative, post-operative and ongoing care.
The Ostomy Care Associate (OCA®) Program
The WOCN Society developed the Ostomy Care Associate (OCA) Program as a continuing education program to further empower wound, ostomy, and continence specialty nurses and to improve patient outcomes by enhancing the general ostomy knowledge for the entire nursing team. Convatec is investing in the expansion of the OCA Program by offering it at no cost to select facilities and managing the administration of the curriculum initiative, and through highly qualified ostomy care experts.
*All participants will receive a certificate of completion awarded by the WOCN Society. Licensed nurses in the US are eligible and will receive Contact Hours upon completing the program.
Since its inception in 2017, over 1,000 people have completed the OCA Program. Of those, 100% have reported that their professional knowledge and skills were updated, 99.6% have reported that they plan on making changes in their practice based on this educational activity, and 100% would recommend this activity to others.
*Access to these programs is being granted by an unrestricted educational grant.