Introducing the Ostomy Care Associate (OCA) Program

What is the OCA Program? A WOCN® Society endorsed ostomy care educational program developed to meet the growing need for skilled ostomy care providers across all care settings. Evidence-based continuing education course worth 27.0 contact hours that meets international standards of care. Online course with comprehensive hands-on training and testing.

Developed by Industry Leaders This program was developed by the OCA Task Force: Phyllis Kupsick, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CWOCN (chair) Diane Bryant, MS, RN, CWOCN Janice Colwell, RN, MS, CWOCN, FAAN Dorothy Doughty, MN, RN, CWOCN, FAAN Margaret Goldberg, MSN, RN, CWOCN Barbara Hocevar, MSN, RN, CWOCN Sandy Hughes, BSN, RN, CWOCN, COS-C Vittoria (Vicky) Pontieri-Lewis, MS, RN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN Carolyn Watts, MSN, RN, CWON (ex-officio) Kelly Jaszarowski, MSN, RN, CNS, ANP, CWOCN (ex-officio)

Goals of the OCA Program Educate and prepare more skilled ostomy care providers across all health care settings. Enhance nurses’ ability to provide optimal care for patients with ostomies as members of a collaborative nursing team. Provide the non-specialty nurse the ability to provide optimal care for patients with ostomies under the direction of a supervising WOC specialty nurse; a physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner; or a clinical nurse specialist (experienced in ostomy care).

Unique Abilities of a OCA Participant Manage basic post-operative ostomy care Competently assist and/or teach pouch emptying and steps in pouch re-application Comfortable with providing discharge instructions: Resuming “normal” activities” How to access assistance if needed Prevention of complications: Recognizing early stomal or peristomal abnormalities Knowledge of when to refer to WOC nurse or MD/NP or PA

Why You Should Implement the OCA Program in Your Facility Your staff will have improved ostomy management skills. Your staff will help improve patient outcomes. Your staff will extend the services of the WOC specialty nurse. Your staff will facilitate clearer documentation to meet regulatory guidelines.

Investment Worth Making Flat fee of $2,500 for a three-year license. Additional $150 fee per person for up to 100 participants. Each participant receives a workbook. There is no limit to the number of times the course can be offered during that 3-year time frame as long as the number of participants does not exceed 100. Patients who are cared for by WOC nurses have better outcomes in terms of healing rates and/or costs of care compared to patients cared for by other nurses.* OCA participants are taught by WOC nurses. * Arnold & Weir, 1994; Bolton et al., 2004; Harris, & Shannon,2008; Peirce, Tiffany, Kinsey, & Link, 2008.

Empower Your WOC Nurse As an educator, consultant, researcher and administrator, the WOC nurse plays a pivotal role in providing optimal patient care in multiple health care settings, including inpatient, outpatient, long-term care and home health.* The OCA Program allows your WOC nursing staff to effectively and efficiently deliver continuing education by utilizing online technology, guided learning activities and competency testing. * WOCN® Society-WOCNCB®, 2008

Enhance Your Ostomy Care Team Providing your non-specialty nursing team with ostomy care training will help your team achieve better outcomes. After completing the OCA Program, the ostomy care associate will: Receive a certificate of completion. Be prepared to function as an integral and valuable member of your nursing team. Be prepared to assist with daily patient monitoring, provide routine care that promotes optimal outcomes for the patient, and evaluate and manage common complications.

Access the OCA Program Ask the WOC nurse(s) at your facility to be a OCA Program Course Coordinator. Must be a CWOCN, CWON, COCN, CWOCN-AP or COCN-AP and a current/active WOCN member. Ask the WOC nurse(s) at your facility to apply online to be a Course Coordinator. Once approved, the Course Coordinator will have 30 days to purchase a license and choose up to 100 participants to complete the program.

Visit: www.wocn.org/?page=OCA Email: oca@wocn.org Call: 888-224-9626