Integrated courses prepare you for practice
and certification.

The curriculum of the webWOC Nursing Education Program has been pedagogically designed in collaboration with the School of Nursing at Metropolitan State University based on years of experience teaching Wound, Ostomy and Continence learners like you. The coursework is both challenging and thorough, so you can knowledgeably care for your patients and properly prepare for national wound, ostomy and continence certification exams.

Courses listed below are offered in packages: Full, Dual, or Partial Scopes. For example, the Full Scope learner package includes all of the courses listed below. The Partial Scope packages are customized to meet a more specific learner need. For example, you may want to become a board certified wound care specialist. The course package for this education is: Nursing 520: Foundations of WOC Nursing and Nursing 521: Skin and Wound Management. We also advise learners interested in wound care to take the Bowel and Bladder Continence course, Nursing 523.

See below for a complete listing of courses offered.

Courses Offered

Nurs 520: Foundations of WOC Nursing (1.0 credit)
Required for all learners.

This course will address the various critical underpinnings to implementation of the role of the WOC nurse and specialty nurse. Learners will gain knowledge of the history of the specialty, legal and ethical issues pertaining to implementation of the role, and professional growth opportunities (i.e., WOCN, certification, collaborative practice, research utilization, writing for publication and establishing a service or a clinic). In addition, learners will explore common career enhancement activities such as marketing, budget keeping, record keeping, contracting for services and charging for services, procedures and equipment. Concepts central to the practice of WOC nursing will also be discussed such as counseling, patient/family education, infection control, continuity of care and nutrition.

Nurs 521: Skin and Wound Management (3 credits)

This course focuses on the care of the client across the lifespan who may be at risk for skin breakdown, who has a break in skin integrity or who has an existing wound. Specifically, learners will gain knowledge of the etiology, differential diagnoses, clinical findings and management options of the wounds or skin complications affecting these groups. Focus will also be on the adept skill of obtaining a physical assessment and medical history, incorporating data from diagnostic tests, and documentation of assessments and evaluations to attain optimal patient outcomes. Fifty (50) hours of Practicum are required in this course.

Nurs 522: Ostomies and Continent Diversions (3 credits)

This course will address the immediate and long term care of clients across the lifespan experiencing acute and chronic health concerns that often result in an ostomy or continent diversion. Specifically learners will gain knowledge of the etiology, differential diagnoses, clinical findings and management options of the common conditions necessitating an ostomy or continent diversion. In addition, learners will gain knowledge of the etiology, differential diagnoses, clinical findings, and management protocols of the common conditions affecting the ostomy or continent diversion patients. Emphasis will also be placed on the psychosocial and educational needs of these patient groups from a preoperative, postoperative and long-term follow-up perspective. Fifty (50) hours of Practicum are required in this course.

Nurs 523: Bowel and Bladder Continence (3 credits)

This course will address the immediate and long term care of client across the life span experiencing acute and chronic health concerns that often result in urinary or fecal incontinence. Specifically learners will gain knowledge of the etiology, differential diagnoses, clinical findings and nursing, medical and surgical management options for urinary and fecal incontinence. Emphasis will also be placed on the psychosocial and educational needs of these client groups including behavioral strategies, environmental modifications, physical assessment and examination, containment, skin protection, pharmacological interventions and relevant procedures. Fifty (50) hours of Practicum are required in this course.