A wound care nurse is a registered nurse who specializes in treating wounds, ostomy and continence care. They ensure care for patients dealing with a variety of chronic and acute wounds, as well as more complex issues.

Most wound care nurses have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or a BSN. This is because the requirements for Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) certification include a BSN stipulation. Nurses must also hold an active RN license and complete some additional training in order to become certified.

Most wound care certification programs take between two and three months to complete. Once the program itself is complete, the next step is to obtain certification, which requires 50 related CEs (continued education) and 1500 hours of clinical exposure over the last five years.

Nurses considering a career in wound care must obtain a WOC Nursing Certification. Certifications are offered through various accredited programs, such as:

• The Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
  • https://www.wocncb.org/certification
• The National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO)
  
  • https://www.nawccb.org/wound-care-certification
• The America Board of Wound Management (ABWM)
  • https://abwmcertified.org/certification-resources/eligibility/

Finally, after completing the program and obtaining certification via direct care experience, nurses are required to pass an in-depth exam to measure academic and technical competence. Upon passing the wound care certification exam, nurses may then use the initials “WCC” to inform current or future employers of their new specialty.

Wound care nursing is practiced across the spectrum of health care, including emergency departments, urgent care clinics, inpatient care, outpatient care, long-term care, and home health. There is a growing need for wound care nurses in long-term care settings, specifically to help with complications from diabetes.

Depending on the specific credentials, wound care nurses may be categorized as any of the following: Wound Care Certified (WCC), Advanced Wound Care Certified (AWCC), Diabetic Wound Certified (DWC), Ostomy Management Specialist (OMS), Nutrition Wound Care Certified (NWCC) or Lymphedema Lower Extremity (LLE).

Many employers offer a salary differential for this role because certified wound care is considered a specialty, which requires education and clinical practice beyond a traditional RN.

The salary for a wound care nurse varies by state and experience. Typically, salaries range between $58,000 - $80,000. To see a breakdown of wound care nurse salaries by state, please click here.