Welcome to NSWOCC
Formerly known as the Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy
The Power of 3
As healthcare spending in Canada continues to climb, pressure on healthcare administrators to deliver cost-efficient care is intensifying—and policymakers are ever-more focused on ensuring quality and system sustainability. Wound, ostomy and continence challenges are common across all Canadian healthcare settings—and their management places a financial burden on the healthcare system. Registered Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOCs) can help alleviate the financial strain facing administrators and policymakers through the provision of higher quality care, reduced costs and improved outcomes for patients.
Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOCs) are registered nurses trained specifically to design and implement meticulous, evidence-informed care plans for patients with wound, ostomy and continence challenges. NSWOCs contribute to care effectiveness and cost-efficiency through:
- Leadership on interdisciplinary healthcare teams, promoting current, evidence-informed methods and cost-efficient care decisions to resolve wound, ostomy and continence challenges
- Use of advanced and specialized approaches to guide the assessment, treatment and/or management of wound, ostomy and continence challenges
- Education of patients and their families to improve self-engagement and informed care
- Contributions to research including guidelines and policies, products and priority areas for future research
The combination of these practices leads to higher-quality care, lower costs and better outcomes for patients.
Why join NSWOCC?
For close to four decades, only Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) has united the expertise of the registered nurses specialized in wound, ostomy & continence care community for the benefit of all Canadians. The NSWOCC offers Canadian Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence the opportunity to lead the development of an effective, nationwide approach to the specialized care of patients experiencing wound, ostomy and/or continence issues.
Join usWound, Ostomy and Continence InstituteWant to become a Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continece or develop your knowledge in wound, ostomy & continence care? The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute offers online continuing education for Registered Nurses and allied health professionals managing patients with challenges in wound, ostomy and continence offering two educational streams:
- Wound, Ostomy and Continence Education Program (WOC-EP)
- The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute Skin Health Program
Important Links
- Members Login
- Find an NSWOC in your area
- Wound, Ostomy and Continence (WOC) Institute
- Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Certification
- Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing (JWOCN)
- World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET)
- CINAHL
- International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP)
- In January 2016, ISTAP became an official interest group of NSWOCC
Nurses Specializing in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) is a not-for-profit association for over 500 nurses specializing in the nursing care of patients with challenges in wound, ostomy and continence.
NSWOCC acts in the public interest for Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence to give national leadership in wound, ostomy and continence promoting high standards for NSWOC practice, education, research and administration to achieve quality specialized nursing care.
Read More National ConferenceEnhance your clinical knowledge, build leadership skills and learn the latest advances in wound, ostomy & continence issues while meeting new colleagues to share best practice. Plenary, concurrent and workshop education sessions will provide you with the opportunity to learn from top experts in the field relating to all patient populations and practice settings. This is a good way to earn continuous learning hours to apply to C.N.A Certification WOCC(C)
Read More UPCOMING WEBINARSLooking for continuous learning in wound, ostomy and continence issues through exposure to National experts focused on interesting topics? Become and NSWOCC member and participate in an NSWOC Webinar to grow your knowledge through the interactive elements in the ability to give, receive and discuss information in real-time or to view at your convenience in our webinar library in the members-only section of the website.
View our upcoming and past webinars below!
Upcoming WebinarsTestimonials
During my 2 terms as a NSWOCC board member I have grown personally & professionally as an NSWOC. The mentorship, networking and educational opportunities from NSWOCC have been invaluable in the advancement of my career path. It was a great experience!
Teresa Stone RN BScN WOCC(C) Nanaimo B.C.
I have been a member of NSWOCC since 1982 and have consistenly been inspired by the tenacity of the organization to honour it’s commitment to excellence, and quality outcomes for both patients and the members. Recently I have been an academic advisor for the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute WOC-EP program. This experience has been very rewarding both professionally and personally as it has taught me so much
Nancy Parslow RN, MClSc-WH, WOCC(C).
I graduated from the Wound, Ostomy and Continence WOC-EP program in 2015 and this competency based program has helped me in my role as a Tissue Viability Nurse in the U.K.. As a Canadian NSWOC working abroad, my NSWOCC Membership not only provides me with information on current best practice, it helps me stay connected with Canadian colleagues and has assisted me in obtaining international information on skin tears through ISTAP.
Julia Harris, RN, BN, NSWOC