Introducing the Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) Program Empower Your WOC Nurse. Enhance Your Team. Achieve Even More Positive Clinical Outcomes. It’s your move to…

Introducing the Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) program The Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) Program is a WOCN® Society endorsed wound care educational program geared to non-specialty licensed wound care providers and medics/corpsmen.

You build a team with basic and specialty care skills and expertise As a leader, you strategize possible outcomes for your facility all the time. Make Your Move You recognized the need for specialty trained nurses, and hired WOC nurse(s) The WOC nurse is a huge asset to your workforce - - imagine what it would be like if you could enhance the team further and achieve even more positive clinical outcomes…

What’s your best move? Before: A dedicated staff with skills After: A dedicated staff with fundamental wound care skills to support your WOC nurse(s) Answer: Implementing the WTA Program in your facility

What is the Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) program Individuals completing the WTA program will function under the direction of the supervising APRN, WOC specialty nurse or physician. As extenders to the team, participants will have completed WOCN Society approved education that enables them to assist with daily patient monitoring, pressure ulcer prevention and basic wound management.

Unique functions/abilities in wound care management for participants completing the WTA program Implements preventative care per established protocols and monitors skin status Implements treatment plans established by the supervising APRN, WOC specialty nurse or physician, and uses products as outlined in the plan Provides on-going monitoring of the wound and the patient's response to the established plan to include measurement and observation of the wound Notifies supervising clinician when the wound deteriorates or fails to progress Participates in quality improvement programs

Now is the time to implement the WTA program in your facility There is an increasing need for wound care in all settings By implementing the WTA program in your facility… YOU are improving basic wound assessment skills for staff YOU are helping to improve patient outcomes with more skilled providers. YOU are building a team that helps extend the services of the WOC specialty nurse to achieve goals such as eliminating avoidable pressure ulcers and preventing wound complications/infections. YOU are facilitating clearer documentation to meet regulatory guidelines.

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 (WOCN® Society-WOCNCB®, 2008). The WTA program allows your WOC nursing staff to effectively and efficiently deliver continuing education utilizing online technology, guided learning activities and competency testing.

Enhance Your Team. Studies have shown that patients who were cared for by WOC nurses had better outcomes in terms of healing rates and/or costs of care compared to patients cared for by other nurses (Arnold & Weir, 1994; Bolton et al., 2004; Harris, & Shannon,2008; Peirce, Tiffany, Kinsey, & Link, 2008). Providing basic wound training to your non-specialty wound care providers will help WOC nurses achieve better outcomes.

Achieve Even More Positive Clinical Outcomes. Anatomy and Physiology of Skin and Soft Tissue: Implications for Routine Care Skin and Tissue Loss Caused by External Factors Establishing Protocols for Prevention Legal and Regulatory Issues Physiology of Wound Healing Systemic Factors Affecting Wound Repair Major topics covered through the WTA Program…

Achieve Even More Positive Clinical Outcomes. Wound Assessment and Documentation Guidelines for Topical Therapy Assessment and Management of Refractory Wounds Management of Arterial/Ischemic Ulcers Management of Venous Ulcers Prevention and Management of Neuropathic Ulcers Major topics covered through the WTA Program (continued)…

How to launch the WTA program in your facility 1. Ask your WOC nurse(s) to apply to be a WTA “Course Coordinator.” He/she will be the facilitator of the program guiding discussions, applied learning sessions, learning activities and competency testing. 2. Visit and have your WOC nurse(s) fill out the application (please note: The course coordinator(s) must be a CWCN, CWON or CWOCN, and a current, active WOCN member) 3. Once approved, choose which non-specialty licensed wound care staff members you’d like to see go through the program and provide payment to WOCN. 4. Those interested in receiving a certificate of completion will participate through the WTA online course, which includes a hands-on competency test. 5. The approved Course Coordinator guides the staff through the program.

An investment worth making The price is a flat fee of $2,500 for a two year license, plus $150 fee per nurse, for up to 100 nurses, who participate in the program. The online course can be provided in any setting, under the direction of a WOCN Society approved WOC nurse (The Course Coordinator).

The Society acknowledges the incredibly hard work done by the WTA Development Committee Dorothy Doughty, MN, RN, CWOCN, FAAN, WTA Committee Chair Phyllis Kupsick, MSN, FNP-BC, CWOCN, Board Liaison Phyllis Bonham, PhD, MSN, RN, CWOCN, DPNAP, FAAN, WOCN Past President, Ex Officio Cheryl Bowling, BSN, RN, CWOCN Commander David Crumbley, MSN, RN, CWCN Bonny Flemister, MSN, RN, CWOCN, ANP, GNP-BC Lieutenant Commander Tracey Giles, BSN, RN Barbara List, BSN, RN, CWOCN Sharon Saim, MSN, RN, ARNP-C, CWCN Lindsay Sears, BSN, RN Brooke Bilofsky, Associate Meeting Manager Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Director of Education

About The WOCN Society Founded in 1968, the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN ® ) is a professional, international nursing society of more than 4,800 health care professionals who are experts in the care of patients with wound, ostomy and incontinence.

Questions? Visit Contact Director of Professional Development, Anna Shnayder at