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Question:
Hello, I'm a student using Wound Care for my BSN Developmental Plan project. While looking for the requirements for WOC certification renewal (time, number of CE and others) and cannot locate a specific part of Handbook or the page at your web-site. Since WTA-C is not mentioned on the tab "Certification," please define it and explain what it means in "recertification." Thank you.
Answered October 3, 2024
To earn the certification credentials in wound care, we have three different levels of certification exams -- which is the method for earning the certification credentials the first time. The certification credentials remain valid/effective for a 5-year period, at which time a nurse can re-certify their credential. The requirements for being eligible to apply for the certification exams are listed on this website, under "Certification" and then after that are listed by specialty/level. For example, "Certification / Wound Ostomy Continence" is for the RN with a Bachelor's Degree, and on that page when clicking "Eligibility" will list the requirements to apply for those exams to earn credentials the first time. Additionally, there is a wound certification for the LPN (or Associate Degreed RN) as a "Wound Treatment Associate - Certified (WTA-C)" and the eligibility is found listed under "Certification / Wound Treatment Associate - Certified" -- again, click on "Eligibility". After earning credentials, and when seeking to re-certify when due to expire in 5 years, you will find information on how to recertify, listed under "Recertification" and you will look for the credential name or specialty. Each credential can be re-certified by taking the exam again, or for the RN or AP level credentials can be re-certified via portfolio submission. Please contact us directly if you have more questions.
Question:
Can a WOCN RN perform biopsies
Answered October 3, 2024
The WOCNCB certification demonstrates that you have additional knowledge in the specialty. However, regardless of a specialty certification, your state board of nursing governs your scope of practice according to your licensure and varies by state. For example, a certified CWCN may hold RN but another may hold NP, etc., and therefore each would practice at different levels and could vary by state. We suggest contacting your state board of nursing.
Question:
I will be doing the Experiential Pathway and taking courses through Emory. They only offer 40 CE's for Continence. Can I use my Wound Treatment Associate CE's from this past spring to meet the require 50 CE's for continence? I believe the WTA was 35 CE's.
Answered October 2, 2024
The WTA course only pertains specifically to wound care, so would not count for a Continence exam application since the CE must pertain specifically to continence care.
Question:
For completing the PGP Portfolio, under the submission of Practice Hours, can we use any hours while hired in a general nursing role if we still used our WOC expertise? Example: Home Health RN using wound expertise in the field or inpatient bedside RN using wound, ostomy AND continence expertise while inpatient, even if that isn't the major/ only focus of that nursing job?
Answered October 2, 2024
Yes, your hours will count coming from any work setting.
Question:
Hello,
I completed a PGP for wound- trying to submit it. It forced me to complete an application for taking the exam. My goal was to use PGP for wound (all done-everything complete) and to take wound and ostomy exams. I am taken to the application site and it looks like I want to take all three exams. Please advise.
Answered October 2, 2024
If you created an exam application in error, our testing agency will need to delete the exam application, return fees for exams, and then you may complete the pending PGP payment which which can be done any date. You may contact our testing agency (Meazure Learning) at (919) 572-6880 or email: candidatesupport@meazurelearning.com
Question:
Hi, I would like to know if giving a power point presentation on specialty, at WOCN meeting, counts towards points for recertification. Also, would membership on a Unit Based Hospital committee also count as points? If so, I am unclear as to which category.
Tracking forms need to be submitted for hours towards clinic points to be awarded. I did see a form to download. I have een tracking on a different form and wanted to clarify that form on site needs to be downloaded to hours completed. Just wanted to confirm.
Thank You
Answered September 30, 2024
Yes, a presentation on the specialty at a WOCN meeting is found on page 14 of the PGP Handbook, under Teaching – "Presentation of an educational program (per 30 minute program). You also receive points for "Develop an educational program" also on that page for the presentation. Committee membership in your facility also counts, found on page 13, under Facility organizations – "Facility/Employer Committee Chair/member". In both these activities, you need to be sure they relate to your role as a WOC nurse.
Question:
Hello,
I am about to submit my PGP for both Wound and Ostomy, and I have 2 questions. First, I am in a graduate school public health program with a focus on healthcare quality and patient safety. In my ostomy portfolio, I entered the course entitled 'The Science of Patient Safety' under professional practice. Does this course sound acceptable? I've also taken statistics and epidemiology courses if those would be better for the portfolio.
Second, I have 4 entries for WTA Skills Instructor points because I completed this course with different groups 4 times over my last certification period. May I leave these 4 entries as is or should I just enter 1 course? I spoke with someone at conference this weekend who suggested that I clarify this prior to submitting.
Thank you!
Laura
Answered October 2, 2024
Academic credits must be from an accredited college or university. Credits acquired for a nursing major or by challenge examinations are acceptable. Credits should relate to health care, management, teaching or the biopsychosocial knowledge base of human services. Coursework should enhance or impact the WOC nurse role and relate to health care, teaching, research, management, etc. These are reviewed upon sending your PGP portfolio.
Question:
My window is up to submit my PGP in September 2024. After attending the session last evening regarding PGP new guidelines, I realized that I would have enough points to recertify if I completed additional CEUS. If I pay the 75.00 for late portfolio submission, would that allow me to complete the additional CEUS required in the month of October and submit by October 31st?
Answered September 26, 2024
The late fee gives you a late submission deadline, however, it does not affect your "Points Accrual" period. In other words, the PGP points included in the portfolio MUST fall within the original "Points Accrual" dates shown in your PGP account. This means that you may not include new CE or other PGP activity items that occur after the ORIGINAL deadline (i.e., Points Accrual end date).
Question:
Inquiry Regarding Certification for Foreign Nurse Specialist in Wound and Ostomy
Dear WOCNCB Certification Team,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to inquire about the certification process for a foreign nurse specialist from Colombia, who is trained in wound and ostomy care, and interested in obtaining certification in the United States through WOCNCB.
Could you please provide information regarding the eligibility requirements, necessary documentation, and any specific steps for international candidates? Additionally, I would appreciate any details about equivalency of education, clinical experience requirements, and if there are any language proficiency exams required for foreign-trained nurses.
Your guidance in understanding the process for international certification would be greatly appreciated, and I look forward to your response.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Sincerely,
Paula Ramirez
Register Nurse US
Wound and Ostomy Speciliast universidad del valle Cali Colombia
Answered September 26, 2024
You would need to be a licensed RN, hold a Bachelor's Degree that is equivalent to a 4-year degree in the U.S., and then would have the option to qualify through the "Traditional" or the "Experiential" pathway. The traditional pathway is to graduate from a WOC Nursing Education Program (or an international WCETN education program). We have a link on our website to these programs. The experiential pathway is to use your own experience specific to wound and specific to ostomy, plus to have 50 course credits (Continuing Education or CE) specific to wound and 50 specific to ostomy. For the verification of your Bachelor's Degree, we would need to receive an education evaluation service to have verified this for you. Please see our Eligibility page on this website, under "Certification / Wound Ostomy Continence". The links to the education programs are on that web page.
Question:
What is PGP?
Answered September 25, 2024
Thank you for your question. PGP stands for Professional Growth Program, which allows you to recertify WOCN and FC specialties using various activities rather than taking exams. Please go to http://www.wocncb.org/recertification/professional-growth-program-pgp to learn more. The information is under the "recertification" tab on this website.
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