How to Become a Wound Care Nurse

Nearly 2.5% of the U.S. population has a chronic wound, and new evidence shows that those numbers are rising among Medicare beneficiaries under age 65.

Wound care nurses are registered nurses (RN) with specialized skills and expertise in wound care. They can be certified in wound care, continence, ostomies, foot care, or all four.

Review the steps needed to become a wound care nurse, important certifications, and salary potential.

Wound care and ostomy nurses work in wound care centers, hospitals, home care agencies, and residential care facilities. They collaborate with wound care providers to identify wound types and select the most appropriate treatment plan to promote wound healing. They also dress wounds, educate patients and their families, and prepare patients for diagnostic tests, treatments, and procedures.

Many wound care nurses are particularly skilled in managing colostomies or “ostomies,” a group of surgically created openings that allow waste to leave the body through the abdomen. Wound care nurses have a thorough understanding of ostomy function, when and how to change ostomy pouches and bags, and how to keep the opening and skin healthy and intact.

Wound care nurses must have an eye for detail to identify subtle changes in the appearance of wounds and ostomies. They also need to have good teamwork and time management skills.

According to the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB), more than 10,000 certified wound care nurses exist.

Becoming a certified wound care nurse can increase your employment opportunities, including as a travel nurse. It also could raise your salary potential and lead to greater professional satisfaction.

Becoming a wound care nurse begins with earning a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited program. After graduation, you must meet all licensure requirements in your state. Then, to become an RN, you must take and pass the Nursing Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

Most employers prefer certified wound care nurses certified in basic life support or advanced cardiac life support.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the process.

The minimum degree required to work as a wound care nurse is a BSN. If seeking wound care certification, additional education in wound care may be required by the certifying organization.

Certification options are also available for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). This category of nurse — a group that includes nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse-midwives, and certified registered nurse anesthetists — hold advanced degrees and specialty certifications.

A wound care nurse must hold an active and unencumbered registered nursing license in the state to become certified. A wound care nurse may also hold an APRN license. States require RNs and APRNS to renew their license. The requirements for renewal vary by state.

Most employers want certified wound care nurses to guide and direct their wound care treatments and protocols. Several organizations offer certification. Testing requirements for certification are the most rigorous through the WOCNCB.

WOCNCB test eligibility is determined in one of two ways:

Specialty certifications include:

You may also seek certification through the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy. One of the eligibility requirements is either a completed wound and skin care course or certification from the WOCNCB. You must also complete 120 hours of hands-on clinical training or two years of full-time (or four years part-time) experience in the care of patients with wounds.

The American Board of Wound Healing offers a certified skin and wound specialist certification requiring two years of experience in the hospital or outpatient setting with training as a wound care assistant. You must also complete 200 hours of training and active practice each year in the past two years. In addition, you must complete 20 continuing education units and core competencies in wound care.

A wound care nurse’s responsibilities may vary depending on the work setting. Certified wound care nurses work in various settings, including:

The nature of a patient’s wound and your work as a wound care nurse will vary depending on the care setting and patient population. For example, patients in a diabetic clinic more often have chronic and difficult-to-heal wounds for which the wound care nurse must apply supplemental interventions. However, a wound care nurse may only be consulted once or twice for a surgical wound on a patient with no chronic conditions.

The added education and certification may not drastically increase a wound care nurse’s salary potential, but it does improve work-life balance and employment opportunities.

Wound care nurses earn an average salary of $101,710, compared to an average salary of $87,870 for all RNs, according to ZipRecruiter.

Before pursuing additional education and certification, it’s helpful to know the salary range for a wound care nurse in your geographical area.

This page was last reviewed on August 4, 2024