Copyright© 2013 by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®). Date of Publication: 6/1/13. No part of this publication may be reproduced, photocopied, or republished in any form, in whole or in part, without written permission of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society.
ISBN 978-1-4698-4717-7
WOCN Society
15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C · Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 · www.wocn.org
The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®) has always focused on providing services to members. A 1990 membership survey led to identification of a thorough, practical professional practice manual. Ruth Bryant, MS, RN, CWOCN, Sue Currence, BSN, RN, CWOCN, and Kristy Wright, MBA, RN, FAAN, CWOCN, volunteered to take on the project.
Others who contributed included the following:
Linda Allen, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Victor Alterescu, MPH, MBA, RN, CWOCN
Lynda Brubacher, ARNP, CWOCN
Jan Colwell, MS, RN, CWOCN
Bonnie Cunningham, MS, RN, CWOCN
Margaret Goldberg, MSN, RN, CWOCN
Betty Goularto
Ann Hackbarth, RN, CWOCN
Meredith Hollingsworth, EdD, RN, MS, CWOCN
Sally Irrgang, MA, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Dianne Krasner, PhD, RN, CWOCN
Chris Martin, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Northwest Region IAET
Barbara Oot-Giromini, MSN, RN, CWOCN
Shirley Perkins, RN, CWOCN
Ethel Pryor, MSN, RN, CWOCN
Laurie Riffel, RN, CWOCN
Amy Roma, RN, CWOCN
As health care has changed dramatically, so has the WOCN Society. The second edition has been written to reflect the changes influencing wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) nursing practice. The authors were Bernie Cullen, MSN, RN, CWOCN, Dorothy Doughty, MN, RN, CWOCN, Kelly Jaszarowski, MSN, RN ANP, CWOCN, Laurie Lovejoy, MSN, RN, CS, CWOCN, GNP, and Gail Parry, MSN, RN, CWOCN, CCM. Mary Kay Wooten, MSN, RN, CWOCN, coordinated the project.
We acknowledge the following new contributors:
Penny Crawford, MSN, RN, CS, FNB, CWOCN
Paula Erwin-Toth, MSN, RN, CWOCN, CS
Barbara Gordon, MSN, RN, CWOCN, ARNP
Mikel Gray, PhD, CUNP, CCCN, FAAN
Brenda Meara, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Harriet Pilert, MS, RN, CWOCN
Carol Publicover, MSN, ARNP, CWOCN
Janet Ramundo, MSN, RN, CWOCN, FNP
Rick Rayome, BSN, RN, CCCN
Ann Stowell, BS, RN, CWOCN
Barbara Walsh, MS, RN, CWOCN
The third edition reflects not only changes in health care but also the increased utilization of technology in WOC nursing practice. This revision was spearheaded by WOCN President Laurie Lovejoy McNichol, MSN, RN, CWOCN, GNP, Kathleen Lawrence, MSN, RN, CWOCN, Kelly Jaszarowski, MSN, RN, ANP, CWOCN, and Mary Kay Wooten, MSN, RN, CWOCN. Margaret Goldberg, MSN, RN, CWOCN, was the project coordinator.
Contributions from the following are gratefully acknowledged:
Mikel Gray, PhD, CUNP, CCCN, FAAN
Katherine Moore, PhD, RN
Ben Pierce, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Kristy Wright, MBA, RN, FAAN, CWOCN
We thank the WOCN members who freely shared their forms, procedures, and policies for publication in the appendices.
This fourth edition of the Professional Practice Manual is a compilation of information and resources to assist WOC specialty nurses in role development and implementation. The manual also addresses issues that impact professional practice and provides guidance about how to engage in public policy and advocacy.
Led by Sonya Perry, MSN, RN, CWOCN, members of the Professional Practice Committee (2010–2012), as well as experts from the Marketing Committee, Membership Committee, and National Public Policy Committee, contributed to this publication. Carole Bauer, MSN, APN-BC, CWOCN, coordinated the project.
We acknowledge and thank the following contributors:
Carole Bauer, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, OCN, CWOCN
Cheryl Bealer, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Sandra C. Hughes, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Rosalyn S. Jordan, BSN, RN, MSc, CWOCN, WCC
Cheryl A. Lane, MSN, RN, CRNP, CRRN, CWCN
Judy Mosier, MS, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Sonya M. Perry, MSN, RN, CWOCN
Debora Snarr, MS, RN, ANP-BC, CWCN
Myra Varnado, BS, RN, CWOCN, CFC
Jennifer Wolverton-Wade, BSN, RN, CWCN
Diane Zeek, MS, RN, NP-C, CWOCN
We acknowledge and thank the following past members of the Professional Practice Committee:
Jacquelyn Boan, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CWOCN
Frances Demo, BSN, RN, CWON
Jacque Jenkins, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Anna Psillos, BSN, RN, CWOCN
David Spanos, MEd, MS, RN, CWOCN
Kelly Sparks, BSN, RN, CWOCN, CFCN
Kimberly White, MSN, RN, NP-C, DNP
Katherine M. Zimnicki, DNP, ACNS-BC, CWOCN
SandraLee Hartman, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Bianca Woodall-Jones, MS, RN-C, CWOCN
Dianne L. Feeser, MS, RN, GCNS-BC, CWOCN
Peggy Holleyman, BSN, RN, WCC
Diane Maydick, EdD, RN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN
Frances Schuda, MSN, RN, CWOCN, NHA, CNDLTC, DAWCP
Christine Berke, MSN, APRN-NP, CWOCN-AP, ANP-BC
Sonya Clark, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Barbara Dale, BSN, RN, CWOCN, CHHN
Sue Lerner, MSN, RN, CWOCN (retired)
Suzanne Collins, MS, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Christopher C. Rorick, Senior Policy Advisor, Bryan Cave LLP
Judith Parrott, Esquire
Bari Stiehr, BS, RN, CWOCN
Heather Tweed, BSN, JD
The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society is a professional nursing society that supports its members by promoting educational, clinical, and research opportunities to advance the practice and guide the delivery of expert health care to individuals with WOC concerns.
The WOCN Society believes that nursing as a profession enhances health care services to a multifaceted society and includes prevention, health maintenance, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation. WOC care is an area of specialty practice within the framework of nursing that strives to advance the health care and quality of life of all affected individuals.
The WOCN Society believes that continuing education and research provide the basis for current, comprehensive nursing practice for patients with WOC disorders. Learning may occur on a basic, advanced, or continuing education level and combines the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and clinical expertise. The WOCN Society provides quality continuing education for its members and for other health care professionals in order to enhance and improve WOC nursing practice.
By a process of accreditation, the WOCN Society promotes high standards of education and requires a baccalaureate degree with a nursing major or an equivalent as the entry level for WOC nursing education programs and for specialty courses in WOC management.
WOC nurse specialists and advance practice nurses impact patient care in a variety of health care settings. WOC nurses must demonstrate both clinical expertise and professional practice skills. As clinical experts and leaders, it is essential that WOC nurses perform within the full scope of practice through evidence-based care, education, research, advocacy, and public policy. WOC nursing is multifaceted and requires a wide array of clinical and organizational skills. This fourth edition builds upon previous editions of the Professional Practice Manual as a guidance tool for clinicians, teams, or independent practitioners. The manual is intended to provide a resource and reference that WOC nurses can use in developing, implementing, and expanding their specialty nurse role and practice.