Why Certification in Wound Care is an Ongoing Journey

Achieving certification in wound care is a worthy ambition and a valuable goal

The benefits of achieving certification in wound care are numerous, and can be measured in terms of personal satisfaction, improved job stability and career prospects, as well as better patient care and improved clinical outcomes. It is difficult to find a downside to wound certification.

However, achieving certification in wound care is in reality about much more than meeting a specific career goal. The process of attaining initial wound certification and then subsequently maintaining the qualification is in practice every bit as important. Our knowledge of the pathophysiology of wounds and our understanding of the complex processes involved in wound healing is increasing and developing all the time. Therefore, continuous education and learning should be fundamental to everyone working in wound management in order to keep up to date with latest developments and continue to offer current best practice. Studying for a certification in wound care formalizes this process, and provides a framework to allow the practitioner to constantly update their skills and knowledge.

Achieving wound care certification is also about the contacts and networks that you form along the way – many of whom will stay with you for your professional life. Wound care is a truly collaborative process. Professional online forums that are open to all practitioners studying for wound certification are invaluable in promoting discussions and interactions with similar like-minded people from all around the country.

Finally, it is important to note that the journey does not end with the proud moment when you receive your certification. In many ways, a certification in wound care merely marks the start of a new period in your professional life. The emphasis is on you as a practitioner to maintain the level of knowledge and skill that you have learned during your studies and to continue to apply them to your everyday work. In wound care, we are all continually learning.

Learn More With Our Wound Care Education Options

Interested in learning more about wound care and certification? Browse through our wound care certification courses for information on our comprehensive range of education options to suit healthcare professionals across the full spectrum of qualifications and experience.

Comments

Pamela Hannah says

January 5, 2018 at 1:25 am

Ms.Swezey, Happy 2018! Am a “mature”RN with a very strong background in OR and as a change nurse in same day surgery. I retired about 7 years for a short time, I enjoyed the pace and skills of OR and found a new passion in wounds about 4years ago. I have worked part time in home health doing wound care. I have taken several work shops and classes,but now I want to get serious! Am I unrealistic an 68 and just love it I think I have a natural ability to “help”healing and a real joy of watching a wound heal! Is there a place for me out there?

- Laurie Swezey says
  
  January 8, 2018 at 6:03 pm
  
  Happy New Year! Knowledge is power and we are never to old to further our education and career!! There are no eligibility requirements to take our course. To sit for the certification exam, you will need to show three years of clinical experience. The ABWM defines three years of clinical experience as follows:
  
  “Three years of wound care experience can be acquired over the course of your career. It does not necessarily have to be a consecutive three years. Wound care does not have to be your primary responsibility during that time, as long as you can demonstrate you have had roles related to wound care throughout your career.”
  
  If you do not have the required clinical experience at this time, please contact us so that we can provide you with alternative options.
  
  The following presentation provides a brief overview of our program: http://woundeducators.com/course-preview/.