Previously Asked Questions

Question:
I have been asked to review hospital policies on urinary systems and equipment use. Are reviewing the policies and procedures items that can be used in the PGP portfolio?

Answered February 20, 2025
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately not but it would fall under your practice hours. Good luck on your portfolio.

Question:
A colleague and I started a toenail trimming service at our hospital. I have 2 questions: 1. We are not able to bill for the service but it is up and running and very active. Can we get PGP points for this? 2. Can we each claim the 40 points? We are not in the same renewal cycle.

Answered February 20, 2025
Thanks for your questions. As long as you meet the other requirements listed on page 12 of the 2024 PGP Handbook you can claim points for establishing a new service and you both can claim them if you both did it. It doesn’t matter if you are both in the same renewal cycle.

Question:
Hello, I am reaching out to see if there are organizations that offer wound specific CE's that are NOT accepted for renewal process.

Answered February 18, 2025
We accept all providers of CE when they are wound-specific.

Question:
Hello, I have been an RN CWOCN ,CWON since 2010. I became a nurse practitioner in 2019. A year and a half ago I was finally able to secure a wound care provider job at the healogics wound care clinic in my area. To prepare for my role as a provider I was required to complete multiple educational programs. One program was a hyperbaric oxygen training course that was 40 hours long. These provider courses are accredited by The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Please let me know if this is an accepted accreditation board so that I can claim these 40 hours, as well as other points obtained through this provider wound training, towards my wound certification. Kindly Submitted.

Question:
What supporting documentation and re-training is needed if credentials have lapsed due to failing exam 3 times?

Answered February 17, 2025
When recertifying, you need to pass exams prior to credentials lapse -- or, if the failed exam caused the lapse, you have a 90-day grace period to retake exams. So, it is possible you are still within the 90-day grace period. You can take the exam your first attempt, plus 3 retakes (so a total of 4x) while you are still certified or within the 90 day grace period. If you have gone beyond this point, you can reapply for exams and must show you meet eligibility to apply via the Experiential Pathway. Please see our Exam Handbook on these criteria.

Question:
I am 5 years and 4 months out from completing Wound and Ostomy classes with WEB-WOC. Can I take the WOCN Ostomy Rapid Review class to update? Is this accepted to take the certification board for ostomy care?

Answered February 17, 2025
You must have graduated within 5 years of submitting an exam application. Once it is beyond this period, you could apply for exams showing eligibility through the Experiential Pathway. Please review our eligibility information on the website, under "Certification / Wound Ostomy Continence." If you have the 1,500 practice hours in Wound and the 1,500 practice hours in Ostomy, then if the Ostomy review class is providing you with 50 CE specific to patient ostomy care, it may be you meet this eligibility.

Question:
Hi, We are trying to develop a standardized procedure for conservative sharps debridement at our hospital. Does WOCNB have any competencies available, or do you know/recommend any courses for competency? Thank you!

Answered February 14, 2025
You may want to locate published evidence-based practice information. WOCNCB offers its certification exams and credentialing, however, to find publications we would suggest going to the WOCN Society since they have these resources. Their website is, www.wocn.org

Question:
"I have been an RN working on a general medical-surgical floor for 12 years, where I have gained extensive experience in managing pressure ulcers, vascular wounds, and ostomies on a daily basis. How can these experiences be verified? I have not taken any standard CE courses related to wound care in the past 5 years. Do these hands-on experiences count toward the experience pathway for the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence program?

Answered February 14, 2025
Your experience in the med-surg setting will count for your practice hours in the experience pathway. We require 1500 practice hours in the specialties from the past 5 years. You will provide a total figure on your experience hours in the specialty on our exam application, along with listing the employers it comes from. We can then contact them directly to verify your total hours are correct. You will also need 50 CE in the specialty. Please contact us directly if you have additional questions.

Question:
I am doing a heel presser injury prevention PI. I discovered that nurses have no awareness of who is at risk for pressure injury . I have collected data and planning to write an article about awareness or rather lack of awareness. Is this a seperate activity?If I did a poster for the heel PI , is that a separate activity? Thank you.

Answered February 15, 2025
Thank you for your question. both activities are separate. Please look at category 3 to see if you meet the criteria for these activities

Question:
Will the board except the following entry for Medical Mission & Humanity Work? Medical Misson & Humanity Work right in my own neighborhood. Rosa On 4/17/21 I saw my neighbor at the mailbox when I was at my mailbox. She looked upset so I spoke kind words to her to tried to be supportive. She told me that her mother, who only speaks Spanish, has come to live with her and her family after being discharged from the local hospital. She stated her mother had a big surgery and now has an ostomy. She expressed her frustration on not getting any teaching on the ostomy care before leaving the local hospital. She was frustrated because she could not get the ostomy appliance to stop leaking and causing her mother to be very upset. As Christians we are to help bear on another burdens and help when needed. I informed my neighbor that I am a Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse and that I would be willing to help her and her mom , providing education on how to care for her new ostomy. She was so appreciative she was tearful and felt that God has sent her mother an ostomy nurse. My neighbor, Jessica, said that she would go and talk with her mother and get her approval to have me come and help with her ostomy. She would need to be present to interpret the instructions. Her mother agreed and the next day my mission and humanitarian work began helping Rosa on her road to recovery living with an ostomy. Time was taken to educate Rosa and her daughter, Jessica, about colostomies. Rosa spoke little English and I was unsure how much of my English instructions she was understanding , Jessica interpreted the education in Spanish for her mother. I began by getting approval to enrolled Rosa in both Hollister and Convatec starter programs for new ostomy patients. Explaining that these companies will provide samples of their products for free and have a toll free phone number to call if they have questions or concerns. After several sample attempts to find the right product, a Convatec product was selected that stayed in place for 3 days. Educated Jessica and Rosa on how a healthy stoma looks. Taught them to measure the stoma to obtain the right stoma size, mark and cut wafers, crust areas of being broken down, skin prep, use stoma ring, when empty the pouch to prevent the weight of the stool from pulling the appliance off, and disposing of pouch. Over about 2 weeks of making daily home visits, Jessica became proficient at managing her mothers ostomy. Rosa, was still having a difficult time looking at the stoma. Several months went by and the Jessica did not contact me for any more assistance in helping manage Rosa’s ostomy. When Rosa had a reversal of her ostomy it did not go well and she had to go back to surgery for a leak at the anastomosis site. Rosa had to have another ostomy. After being the in the hospital for a month she was transferred to a rehabilitation center. Then after being in the rehabilitation center for about two weeks her health started failing and she was discharged to her daughters home on Hospice care. Since she was in the neighborhood Jessica called and asked if I could come and help with her mother’s ostomy to make sure the peristomal skin is alright and that they have everything they need to care for her because of the change . Rosa was on hospice for two weeks before she went to her Heavenly Home. During that time every evening I would round on Rosa and the family. Each evening I would sit by Rosa , hold her hand, and pray with her. Jessica would interpret. Also, I would helping turn and assess her skin, making sure they have necessary items for prevention for skin breakdown. While I sat with Rosa, the family would leave her bed side and go do things around the house. I believe that Rosa was waiting for me to come one evening when she decided it was time to go to her heavenly home. While I was holding her hand , and her family left the room, Rosa took her last breath.

Answered February 17, 2025
Thank you for your beautiful story. Unfortunately this is not a Medical mission or Humanity work through an organization. I have sent your question to further members to review. One suggestion is to write an article which would allow you to claim points. If more suggestions come in I will send them to you.