Course Descriptions

45* ANCC Contact Hours.

Seminars in WOC Nursing is a prerequisite for all courses in this Program. This course prepares the learner for entry level practice in the Specialty of WOC Nursing.  Practice development materials as well as foundational clinical knowledge that crosses the scopes of the WOC Nursing are the focus of this course. Topics include: developing a WOC nursing practice, marketing and role implementation as well as history of the specialty, legal and ethical issues, and professional growth following the Nursing Education Program (i.e., WOCN® Society, certification). Clinical topics presented in this course are:  comprehensive patient assessment, evidence-based practice, moisture associated skin damage, education and communications.

*45 ANCC Contact Hours for Fall 2019 Semester.  30 ANCC Contact Hours for Summer 2019 Semester.  No ANCC Contact Hours were awarded for the Spring 2019 Semester.

60 ANCC Contact Hours. 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 health history, incorporating data from diagnostic tests, and documentation of assessments and evaluations to attain optimal client outcomes.

60 ANCC Contact Hours. This course focuses on the care of the client across the lifespan who has an ostomy or continent diversion.  Specifically, the learner will gain knowledge of the diseases or conditions that may result in an ostomy or continent diversion, assessment and perioperative management of these patients. Emphasis is placed on complications of the stoma and skin, risk assessment, prevention, identification and management. Best practice is frequently the level of research in this field of study.  That knowledge will be presented in order to improve the nurse’s knowledge and client outcomes.

60 ANCC Contact Hours. This course focuses on the care of the client in all care settings who has fecal and/or urinary incontinence.  Specifically, the participant will gain knowledge of transient versus permanent incontinence as well as approaches to manage both.  Classification of the types of urinary incontinence will be described and treatment identified.  Risk assessment, prevention, identification and management of the incontinence problem will be included.  Knowledge will be presented in order to improve the nurse’s knowledge and care of patients with bowel and bladder incontinence issues.

Traditional Practicum:

A 40-hr clinical practicum with an approved preceptor is required to complete each Scope of Practice.  A full scope of practice requires 120 hours of experience with the preceptor.

COVID-19 Update regarding Clinical Practicum:

NEW! WEB WOC has been approved by the WOCN, to offer alternative practicum experiences (i.e. simulation, competency based education and other forms of clinical education and evaluation) that do not require a clinical facility during this time of international health care crisis with COVID-19. We will be initiating these approved alternatives to a traditional practicum starting later in Summer 2020. For those facilities continuing to accept learners, we will also continue the traditional clinical practicum.

33 ANCC Contact Hours. This course focuses on building and sustaining a culture of safety in skin and wound care for individual patients, caregivers and the health care system.  Evidence-based practice guides prevention, focused assessments and management approaches. Emphasis is placed on understanding physiology of the skin and how healing occurs followed by types of skin injuries, their prevention and treatment. Skin injuries studied in this course include: skin tears, moisture associated skin damage, mechanical skin injuries, surgical site wound infections, pressure injuries and wounds of the lower extremity.  Efficient utilization of resources that lead to optimal care for the patient and risk reduction with cost containment for the health care system represents the themes of this educational experience.