IN THIS ISSUE:    Award Spotlight  |  What's New  |  Helping Hands   |  Did you know?  |  Resources

President's Message

I would like to wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year. It is my second year as President of the WOCNCB®, and there are so many exciting things going on.  I have enjoyed meeting so many of you, listening to your stories both positive and challenging; it has been inspiring!  Thank you for maintaining The Gold Standard for Certification® in your practice; it has been an honor to serve you in this role.
 
This past year we have finished some significant projects to further streamline the certification process:
1.    A 6 month grace period for lapsed certification
2.    The 90 retake period for lapses due to a failed exam
3.    First retake exam discounts
4.    Updated textbook reference lists
5.    CFCN Fast Track for current CWCN, CWON, CWOCN
6.    The Job Task Analysis for Wound, Ostomy, and Continence
 
This would not be possible without amazing volunteers!  We are always looking for volunteers whether you are a novice or been around the block, so please consider volunteering and help maintain the Gold Standard!

We will soon be signing a contract to create a mobile flash card app.  This is so exciting as it will be easy to study while on the go!  We will still offer the hard copy flash cards, exam content outlines, and the self-assessment exam as additional tools to prepare for the certification exams.

Other plans for 2019 include conducting a Job Task Analysis for the Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN®) and updating the PGP and Advanced Practice Handbooks.  

I would like to congratulate Michael Kingan, who has been elected President-Elect for 2019.  He will join the Executive Committee this year and then take office as President in January 2020.

Again, best wishes for 2019.

Jill Trelease, DNP(c), FNP-BC, CWON, CFCN
WOCNCB® President

Award Spotlight

Congratulations to Sandy Quigley, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, CWOCN®

2018 National Magnet Nurse of the Year® Award recipient.

Sandy Quigley, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, CWOCN, Boston Children’s Hospital specialist in wound, ostomy and continence care, has been named National Magnet Nurse of the Year® by The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

An excerpt from Quigley's hospital announcment: "Sandy is a universally respected leader among nursing and surgical colleagues. She has fundamentally advanced the science and professional practice associated with wound, ostomy and continence care throughout not only Boston Children’s, but also nationally and internationally. Sandy recognized the impact of medical devices as a key source of risk and further adapted the Braden Q tool in concert with several colleagues to include the potential HAPU risk associated with medical devices."

"This prestigious award recognizes exceptional contributions of clinical nurses within Magnet-designated hospitals who foster innovation, consultation, leadership and professional risk-taking. Quigley’s award was conferred in the category of “new knowledge, innovations and improvements” for her leadership to mitigate pediatric hospital acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs).

ANCC presented the National Magnet Nurse of the Year awards during the ANCC National Magnet Conference® in Denver, Colorado, held October 24-26, 2018.

ANCC is currently accepting nominations for the 6th annual National Magnet Nurse of the Year awards program, we hope to add more certificants to the list!  See Details.

If you have an achievement that you are especially proud of, or if you know a colleague who does, let us know! WOCNCB® is dedicated to highlighting the successes of our incredible nurses through social media, email updates and newsletters.

Nominate Your Employer!

WOCNCB® 2019 Employer Recognition Award 

Accepting applications through February 15, 2019

The WOCNCB® Employer Recognition Award is awarded annually to honor an organization that has demonstrated exemplary support of the certification process in WOC nursing.

To nominate your employer:

  • Only current WOCNCB® Certificants can nominate an organization.
  • The application and full details on the submission guidelines can be found on the WOCNCB® website.

Nominate your employer for the 2019 WOCNCB® Employer Recognition Award! Visit http://www.WOCNCB.org/about-us/employer-recognition-awards

Accepting nominations through February 15, 2019

 

What's New

 Welcome New WOCNCB® Board Members

 

Holly Hovan, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN-AP

   Cathy Wogamon, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, CWON, CFCN

2019 WOCNCB® Board Members

 

From left to right: Chenel Trevellini, Kathleen Kump, Cathy Wogamon, Clay Collins, Michael Kingan, Jill Trelease, Shawn Meadows, George Salamy, Holly Hovan, Melayne Martin, Jessica Simmons . Click here for more information on current Board of Directors.

WOCNCB® announces Experiential Pathway for WTA-C® exam

Offering an alternative pathway allows WOCNCB® to submit the WTA-C® to The Magnet Recognition Program® which maintains a list for the sole purpose of identifying certifications that Magnet-recognized and Magnet-applicant organizations may report in the Demographic Data Collection Tool® (DDCT).

WTA-C® Experiential Eligibility:

  • Hold a current, active LVN/LPN or RN license
  • Complete 24 Continuing Education hours (CEs) specific to wound care within the past 12 months
  • Complete 160 hours of clinical preceptorship within the past 12 months
  • Complete a clinical skills checklist with a preceptor to include: monofilament testing, ankle brachial index (ABI), compression wrap, negative pressure wound therapy

Expand your Wound Care Team!

Supervised by a wound care expert, a WTA-C® is a valuable member of a full scope skin and wound care team further improving quality of care and patient outcomes. A WTA-C® extends the reach of the skin and wound care team, allowing the CWCN® (or wound care expert) to dedicate more time to treat patients with complex issues and to manage skin and wound care on a facility wide level. Learn more.

A great value! The WTA-C® 5 year certification is $250.00!

New PGP webinar now available!

Is it time to recertify? Consider recertifying using the PGP Portfolio

Do you know that you can start a PGP portfolio up to 5 years before recertification? The webinar will introduce you to the Professional Growth Program (PGP) portfolio recertification process. The PGP portfolio measures knowledge in your specialty area(s) (WOC or Foot) and documents progress from novice to expert.

Get started today!  Click here to access the PGP Webinar On Demand.

Note: Requirements for AP Recertification are different than PGP recertification.  Go to Recertification/Advanced Practice for details.

Additional PGP resources:

WOCNCB® provides online resources to guide you through the PGP process. Click on any of these helpful tools to get started:

Remember recertifying candidates with multiple specialties may select to PGP or Exam for each specialty. This is indicated at the time of portfolio submission and is considered "combination recertification". Learn more here.

Helping Hands

Thank you WOCNCB® 2018 Volunteers!

WOCNCB® is thankful for all those who donate their time to board or committee service. There are so many that contribute to the success of this organization. We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to those volunteers whose service ended in 2018:

  • Laurie Bailey, BSN RN CWOCN, (Elgin, Illinois), PGP Committee, 2014-2018
  • Jodi Becker, MSN RN CGRN CWOCN, (Tipp City, Ohio), Item Review Committee, 2015-2018
  • Phill Botham, MSN RN CWON, (Cullowhee, North Carolina), Board, 2015-2018
  • Stanley J. Cooper, (Philadelphia, PA), Board Public Member, 2017-2018
  • Gail Erickson, BSN RN CWOCN, (Fredericksburg, Virginia), Board, 2015- 2018
  • Renee Gleitz, MSN RN CNP CWOCN, (Mankato, Minnesota), Item Review Committee, 2014-2018
  • Sue Gluek, BSN RN CWON, (Munster, Indiana), Marketing Committee, 2014-2018
  • Justine Hein, BSN RN CWOCN CFCN, (Kingsport, Tennessee), Marketing Committee, 2014-2018
  • Lisa Hill, MSN RN CWOCN, (Ambler, Pennsylvania), Item Review Committee, 2012-2018
  • Ann Marie Jones, MSN RN CWOCN CFCN, (Sylva, North Carolina), Item Review Committee, 2017-2018
  • Kathy Khandaker, MSN RN CNP CWOCN, (Bryan, Ohio), WOC Exam Committee, 2011-2018
  • Ann Marie Lanza-Bisciello, MSN RN CWOCN, (New Hyde Park, New York), Item Review Committee, 2017-2018
  • Tina McDonald, BSN RN CWOCN CFCN, (Tiverton, Rhode Island), Foot Care Exam, 2014-2018
  • Gaylene Montez, BSN RN CWOCN CFCN, (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Marketing Committee, 2014-2018
  • Kathy Porras, MSN RN APRN-BC CWON-AP CCCN, (Munster, Indiana), Marketing Committee, 2017-2018
  • Cathy Reimanis, DNP MS CNS ANP-BC CWOCN, (Golden, Colorado), Board 2012-2018
  • Megan Scheller, BSN RN CWOCN, (Evansville, Indiana), Item Review Committee, 2017-2018
  • Melisa Tiffany, MSN CNS CWOCN-AP, (Spokane, Washington), Advanced Practice, 2015-2018
  • Pamela Wilson, MSN Ed RN CWOCN, (Fenelton, Pennsylvania), PGP Committee, 2014-2018

WOCNCB® Certificants Volunteer for Youth Rally

Each year the Youth Rally has a dedicated team of Licensed Medical Professionals who have experience with wound, ostomy and continence nursing. Some certificants share their experience:

Rachel Kaminski BSN, RN, CWOCN shares her experience as a 2018 volunteer:

As nurses, we pride ourselves on our ability to treat all our patients as individuals and recognize them for the whole human being that they are. We learn about their medical history, family dynamics, eating habits, what teams they root for (Go Cardinals), even their hobbies. Often we get glimpses into the emotional struggles they are battling. They usually are coming to us at their worst, when they are sick, needing surgery or maybe an adjustment in their treatment plan. We work diligently to give them a better quality of life.

And while all that is admirable, we never get to experience our patients in their element. We don’t get the opportunity to see what that quality of life looks like. Youth Rally is an opportunity to see that quality of life first hand. Youth Rally helped me to see the person and not the diagnosis or medical condition.

Once you have the gift of seeing that quality of life you will forever be changed. You cannot assist at Youth Rally and come back the same person. I am a better WOC nurse because of the opportunity to volunteer for a week at Youth Rally.  I saw campers with various medical conditions swim, climb rock walls, learn to play tennis, ride roller coasters, lean on each other for support and thrive. They can be themselves and no one is telling them about their limitations. They have a network of friends who understand them and they can be themselves. They become more independent in their care. I promise if you volunteer at Youth Rally it will be the most profound experience in your nursing career.

As nurses the biggest thing we can do to help Youth Rally is to spread awareness. It is not just potential campers we seek but donors to keep this life saving camp going and it truly is life saving for many kids.  We also seek potential counselors. Most of our counselors have bowel and bladder issues as well and can relate to our kids in a way that meets them where they are. You may be the one to mention Youth Rally to an adult with a bowel or bladder condition who wants to volunteer, or perhaps they will mention Rally to a friend who can benefit from camp. Rally, as we like to call it, can always use nurses.

Applications for July 8th - 13th, 2019 in Seattle, WA will be available February 2019. Visit Youth Rally website to learn more. 

Above: 2018 Youth Rally volunteer nurses and counselors in Boulder, Colorado.

Frances Wilson APRN, CNS, CWOCN-AP, CFCN presents at the Desert Foot Conference in Phoenix, Arizona

Thank you to Frances, who volunteered to present at Desert Foot, an annual multi-disciplinary diabetic limb salvage conference bringing together practicing surgical and wound care health care professionals. Frances collaborated with the Director of Medical Education for PRESENT e-Learning Systems and WOCNCB® presented two sessions:
•    The Nerve of it! Impact of Neurological Disorders on our Integument System
•    When Healing is No Longer the Goal, Embracing Concepts of Palliative Wound Care

View Frances Wilson's presentations, and additional CE opportunities by visiting https://presentwoc.com/

Volunteer and earn PGP Points! Are you attending a WOCN Regional Conference? 

If you plan to attend a regional conference, consider volunteering and promoting the WOCNCB®. To make it easy, WOCNCB® will send you a "Showbox" containing promotional material and resources. 

As a bonus, you will obtain two PGP points (teaching category) under any specialty!  To request a Showbox contact: info@wocncb.org or call (888) 496-2622.

Above: Carolyn Hewett, RN, CWOCN and Terry McVey RN, CWON pictured above using the WOCNCB® Showbox at the 2018 SER Regional Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Did you Know

You save when you apply for two or more certifications at the same time!

The WOCNCB®'s application fees are competitively priced, and the fee structure includes substantial savings for nurses who apply for two or more certifications at the same time.

Application Fees:

One Specialty: $395 (equates to $79/year x 5)
Two Specialties: $510 (equates to $102/year x 5)
Three Specialties: $610 (equates to $122/year x 5)
Four Specialties: $670 (equates to $134/year x 5)

New Indian Health Services Rebate now offered

In recognition of the commitment to provide the best care to American Indian and Alaska Native communities we are now offering a 30% fee rebate for first-time exam certification fees. Please share this exciting new offer with your colleagues considering certification. Click here for rebate form offer.

 

All WOCNCB® official announcements are sent via email

Update us with your contact information in one simple step!

Remember your certifications are with WOCNCB®.  Please keep both WOCNCB® and the WOCN Society up-to-date.  Don't risk a certification lapse!  All WOCNCB® official announcements are sent via e-mail only. If you have changed your e-mail address in the last 5 years, please contact the WOCNCB® office at info@wocncb.org. Help us help you to keep your contact information up-to-date to receive recertification reminders! 

The WOCN Society and WOCNCB® do not share contact databases to prevent any perceived or actual conflict of interest on the part of the certification board. Please keep both WOCNCB® and the WOCN Society up-to-date.

To learn more regarding the WOCN Society and the benefits of membership please visit wocn.org.

Please keep your email address Up-to-Date!

WOCNCB® Resources

Tools to Help You Prepare for Exams:

Be better prepared to pass the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Exams.  Follow the links to the WOCNCB® website below:

Save the Date!

Look for WOCNCB® at these upcoming conferences:
WOCNCB
WOCNCB®
555 East Wells Street, Suite 1100
Milwaukee, WI 53202-3823
Phone: (888) 496-2622
Fax: (414) 276-2146
Email: info@wocncb.org 		Stay Connected with WOCNCB®:

   Youtube     LinkedIn    Facebook