Announcement Templates

Congratulations on your successful certification/recertification in wound, ostomy and continence nursing. The WOCNCB® wants to help you in announcing this achievement. Following are two templates, one for first-time certification and one for recertification, which you may send to your facility newsletter editor, local newspaper, or anywhere that people would benefit from learning of your WOC certification or recertification.

EXAMPLE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FIRST-TIME CERTIFICATION:The WOCNCB® (Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board) is pleased to announce that [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE] has successfully met the criteria and passed the examination to become certified in the area(s) of wound, ostomy and/or continence nursing. Certification is a voluntary process designed to protect the consumer and ensure current knowledge in this nursing specialty. This respected certification is held only by an elite group of specialty nurses.

The certification of the Wound Ostomy and Continence nurse is like no other. The accrediting body, WOCNCB®, ensures the highest levels of relevance by utilizing an outside accreditation body, conducting job analysis at least every 3-5 years, and psychometrically analyzes the exam to capture the realities of the WOCN job among other things. The education programs are completely separate from the WOCNCB® and they do not teach the answers, they teach the theory and application of WOCN skills.

WOCNCB® credentialing provides formal recognition of this commitment to high standards in wound, ostomy, and continence nursing care. Certification provides formal recognition of knowledge as a wound, ostomy and/or continence nurse beyond traditional nursing programs.

WOCNCB® certification ensures that a nurse is knowledgeable and well qualified to provide specialized care at your institution. It is important to you, the employer, and it is even more important to your patients.

Evidence-based practice standards at your facility will improve patient outcomes while providing cost-effective care. Also, as a result of hiring board certified nurses you have fewer malpractice claims (Trossman, 2002) and a retrospective analysis (Bolton et al., 2004) revealed that 78.5 percent of those patients treated by a board certified wound care nurse healed in comparison to the 36.3 percent of those treated by non-certified nurses.

Board certified nurses provide cost effective, high quality care while gaining respect from their patients

Last but not least, the CWOCN is a legally defensible resource. By being accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), the WOCNCB has demonstrated a commitment to development and administration of a legally defensible and psychometrically sound certification exam. The achievement of these prestigious accreditations exceeds the requirements of the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The certification is equated with competency in a specialized nursing practice as it reflects both didactic and clinical education and experience. On an international level, the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board is the only accredited organization empowered to Board certify clinicians in our specialty.

Congratulations to [INSERT NAME HERE WITH CREDENTIALS].

EXAMPLE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR RECERTIFICATION:

The WOCNCB® (Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board) is pleased to announce that [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE] has successfully met the requirements to be recertified in the area(s) of wound, ostomy and/or continence nursing. Certification is a voluntary process designed to protect the consumer and ensure current knowledge in this nursing specialty. This respected certification is held only by an elite group of specialty nurses. [INSERT NAME HERE WITH CREDENTIALS] has now obtained these credentials _(two or more)__times and has more than __(five or greater)_ years of experience as a CWOCN.

The certification of the Wound Ostomy and Continence nurse is like no other. The accrediting body, WOCNCB®, ensures the highest levels of relevance by utilizing an outside accreditation body, conducting job analysis at least every 3-5 years, and psychometrically analyzes the exam to capture the realities of the WOCN job among other things. The education programs are completely separate from the WOCNCB® and they do not teach the answers, they teach the theory and application of WOCN skills.

WOCNCB® credentialing provides formal recognition of this commitment to high standards in wound, ostomy, and continence nursing care. Certification provides formal recognition of knowledge as a wound, ostomy and/or continence nurse beyond traditional nursing programs.

WOCNCB® certification ensures that a nurse is knowledgeable and well qualified to provide specialized care at your institution. It is important to you, the employer, and it is even more important to your patients.

Evidence-based practice standards at your facility will improve patient outcomes while providing cost-effective care. Also, as a result of hiring board certified nurses you have fewer malpractice claims (Trossman, 2002) and a retrospective analysis (Bolton et al., 2004) revealed that 78.5 percent of those patients treated by a board certified wound care nurse healed in comparison to the 36.3 percent of those treated by non-certified nurses.

Board certified nurses provide cost effective, high quality care while gaining respect from their patients

Last but not least, the CWOCN is a legally defensible resource. By being accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), the WOCNCB has demonstrated a commitment to development and administration of a legally defensible and psychometrically sound certification exam. The achievement of these prestigious accreditations exceeds the requirements of the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The certification is equated with competency in a specialized nursing practice as it reflects both didactic and clinical education and experience. On an international level, the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board is the only accredited organization empowered to Board certify clinicians in our specialty.

Congratulations to [INSERT NAME HERE WITH CREDENTIALS] on successfully recertifying as a CWOCN.