Everyone is familiar to almost everyone; it generally means to take care of the people in physical distress. It combines aspects from biology, pharmacology, medicine and psychology to effectively take care of the people in destitute. nursing has a very wide scope and it's a very rewarding and promising career. Nurses are individuals, mostly females though many men have stepped into this career due to its bright prospects, which are educated and trained to provide necessary medications, assist and complement doctors in main treatment, and monitor progress of the patients on timely basis. There are several nursing specialties in which a nurse can get specialized in, these nursing specialties educate and train nurses according to the area. There are numerous specialties to pick and choose from depending on one's interest. They range from highly complex to basic ones e.g. cardiac nursing, pediatric nursing, wound care nursing, school nursing, burn nursing, midwifery nursing, travel nursing and so on and so forth. Nurses choose their option on the basis of the employability of the nursing specialty degree, salary and future prospects.
A wound care nurse is a nurse who is specialized in wound management. The wound care nurse is responsible for providing instant treatment to patients with various genres of wounds ranging from complicated ones such as a wound from a bullet to simple ones like one falling from a bike. A wound care nurse assists helps and complements a doctor in operating the wounds and then monitoring the healing process. A wound care nurse can start practicing nursing if she possesses a registered nurse certification but there are other educational pathways that can lead to much higher rank of nursing, more employability, knowledge, education, training and hence much brighter future prospects. There are various degrees that cater to wound care nursing which helps in enhancing the knowledge pertaining wound care.
A wound care nurse holds immense importance in any health care institute she is hired in. A wound care nurse bears the responsibility of assessing the wound and creates a proper report which is then considered when deciding the appropriate course of treatment. The nurse assesses the depth of the wound, examines the damage and suggests required treatment. She also plays a vital role in the monitoring of the healing process and the necessary medication throughout. Thereby, wound care nurse has to be skilled, well trained, educated and experienced. There are some important degrees that are offered in various nursing specialties esp. wound care nursing e.g. Bachelors of Science in nursing (BSN), associate degree in nursing (ADN), and diplomas. These degrees provide all the necessary education and training to the wound care nursing students, so that become responsible professionals in their fields and serve the people. No doubt, having a formal degree as a wound nurse can take you places! Not only that, there has been an increased trend in the US for more and more students opting to get formal education as wound nurses. This has increased specialization and has encouraged competition.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Wound Care Nurse?
Certification is not necessary to work with people who need wound care services but obtaining relevant credentials surely solidifies a nurse’s knowledge and commitment to the field. There are many organizations that offer certifications in this area – one of these is the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN). But before you can apply for the certification, you have to complete a 4-year long Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or an advanced nursing degree. Then, you need to clear the license exams and obtain an RN license. After gaining some clinical experience, you can apply for the Wound Care Certification.
What Are the Requirements to Become a Wound Care Nurse?
Individuals have to meet many requirements in order to become a Wound Care Nurse. First of all, they have to acquire a relevant degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This degree requires completion of around 120 credits and requires students to study a variety of modules such as Health Assessment, Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Nutrition. After completion of the bachelor’s program, the candidates have to appear for the state exam and have to clear it in order to obtain the RN license. Once that is obtained, they have to find employment in a healthcare setting. After some years of working in the field, individuals can then obtain the Wound Care Certification.
How Much Can I Make after Becoming a Wound Care Nurse?
After becoming a Wound Care Nurse, individuals can find employment at public health agencies, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and home health care agencies. While the salary of Registered Nurses was $71,730 in 2018, Wound Care Nurses are expected to earn more than that amount since they are specialists in their field. Thus, this field is quite lucrative, exciting, and rewarding.
Frequently Asked Question(s)
Q:I wish to get the wound care nurse certification online. Can you tell me the benefits?
A:If you are going for the wound care nurse certification online, you can have several benefits that are not offered by the on campus certification programs. Online programs are much more flexible and convenient, as you can study at your own pace and at the time that suits you best. With the online programs you can also make use of various technological resources that aid in learning, and you also save on the traveling and textbook costs.
Q:What will be my major tasks if I go for a career in wound care nursing?
A:If you go for a career in wound care nursing, you will be required to take care of patients with both acute and chronic wounds, ulcers, and surgeries that have not completely healed. Apart from their practical role, they also teach patients how to take care of wounds after they are allowed to return home. The three major tasks include developing treatment plans, cleaning and dressing wounds, and conducting follow up care.
Q:Can you tell me about the wound care nurse training?
A:After acquiring the nursing education, nurses go for the wound care nurse training. It is an important part of the career as nurses gain skills and practical experience in the wound care field. The newly hired wound care nurses get on the job supervision and guidance from the experienced nurses. This may last from a few weeks to a few months and depends on the previous education and experience of the nurses.
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