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Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN™) Program 

The Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN™) Program is geared towards RPN, LPN and Diploma RNs who want to advance their knowledge in the areas in Wound, Ostomy and Continence. Upon completion they will be eligible to use the SWAN designation.

What is the SWAN™ Program?

The Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) Wound, Ostomy and Continence (WOC) Institute, developed the Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN™) Program in response to the growing need in Canada for healthcare professionals with advanced wound, ostomy and continence knowledge. The NSWOCC and WOC Institute developed the paced online SWAN™ education program as a means to support and empower NSWOCs and improve clinical outcomes by enhancing wound, ostomy and continence care teams. The SWAN™ program prepares non-specialty nurses to provide basic, bedside wound, ostomy and continence care.

Skilled nurses provide optimal patient care.

The Goal

The goal of the SWAN™ Program is to educate and prepare more skilled wound, ostomy and continence nurses across the spectrum of care (e.g. acute care, long-term care and homecare). Graduates will have an enhanced ability to provide optimal care for individuals with wound, ostomy and continence issues as members of a collaborative NSWOC team. The program is designed to provide non-specialty nurses the ability to provide optimal wound, ostomy and continence care under the direction of the NSWOC, Clinical Nurse Specialist (Wound, Ostomy or Continence) or Physician and to be integral members of the WOC team.

Course Length

  • Two cohorts per year starting in February and August respectively.
  • Courses are four (4) months long.

Topics Covered

  • Integumentary System
  • Wounds
  • Ostomies
  • Continence Care

Education Program Resources

Ready to Apply?

Prior to starting your application please refer to the admission requirements

Apply now

Questions or Concerns:

Suzanne Sarda
Wound, Ostomy & Continence Institute
Administrative Assistant
414-35, Allée de Hambourg, Gatineau, Quebec J9J 4J6
Office: Toll free at 1-877-614-1262

Academic Tuition

WOC Student Associate Registration

Course Admin Fee

Program Cost

Academic Tuition:

  • $3,000.00
  • May be paid online, and payment by installments can be arranged

NSWOCC WOC Student Associate Membership:

  • $146.00 (This will be added to the Ostomy Course Tuition)
  • SWAN Students are required to be WOC Student Associate Members which costs $100.00 and to purchase the Journal of Wound Ostomy and Continence which costs $46.00. The NSWOCC Membership includes access to the CINAHL Library for literature searches. Membership must be kept up to date for the duration of the program. This can be purchased during the program application and acceptance process. For information on membership please go to https://nswoc.ca/become-a-member/

Course Admin Fee:

  • $50.00

Textbooks

NOTICE: The SWAN Program uses the new Core Curriculum Texts produced by the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society. If you have questions please contact the Wound, Ostomy & Continence Institute Chair: Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc at chair@wocinstitute.ca.

Ostomy:

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™ Core Curriculum: Ostomy Management, 1st edition

WOLTERS KLUWER LWW LIPPINCOTT

ISBN: 9781451194395

Wound:

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™ Core Curriculum: Wound Management, 1st edition

WOLTERS KLUWER LWW LIPPINCOTT

ISBN: 9781451194401

Wound, Ostomy & Continence Institute students are able to purchase these books directly from the publisher at a discount. Students are encouraged to purchase their books early, to ensure that they have them at the opening of the course. Students are may go directly to Login Canada and purchase their textbooks at a discount. Please go to lb.ca/wocinstitute

Continence:

All continence readings will be provided by the WOC Institute

Please check your provincial nursing association for potential funding opportunities!