The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society

To login to the Member Center, please use the email address provided to us when you joined the Society. If your email address has changed since you joined, you may enter the Member Center using the old one, and then update the new one once you are in. Always use the same email, regardless if you are logging at home or at work.

If you forgot your password, click the “Forgot my Password” icon and we will email your password to you quickly.

If you would like to join, please let us know which lists you'd like to subscribe to and we will add you (wound, ostomy, continence, professional practice, or all 4). Please note that the Forums are a member-only benefit. To learn more about becoming a WOCN Member please click here (insert link to Benefits & Pricing)

Forum messages are rejected when you include an attachment. Many times, your facility has upgraded its systems and changed or added an auto signature and a confidentiality statement. These are considered attachments and quite possibly your facility has changed or added what is automatically attached to your email. You may want to check with your IT/IS department to see if this is the case, and get directions from them on how to detach these from your email to enable your forum postings to be accepted.

The WOCN National Office provides administration and management for the WOCN Society. We do not have any medical personnel on staff in the office. We’ll do our best to put you in contact with a WOC nurse in your area who has chosen to be listed on our WOC Nurse Referral listing, or another organization that may be a good resource for you.

Search for a WOC Nurse near you.

The WOCN Society provides numerous ways to reach out to our members. For a complete listing of opportunities, visit the corporate opportunities section.

The WOCN maintains information regarding WOCN accredited schools/programs and Scholarships.

The WOCN and WOCNCB are two separate and distinct entities that work collaboratively to support wound, ostomy and continence nursing practice. Each organization has its own unique mission and goals and is governed by a separate Board of Directors. Certification questions should be directed directly to the WOCNCB.

Formerly known as Enterostomal Therapy (ET) nurses, Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (WOC) nurses are registered nurses who specialize in the care of patients with wounds, ostomies, or continence disorders. WOC nurses’ primary responsibilities are to direct, coordinate, and evaluate patient care in the area(s) of their expertise. Specific functions include direct patient care, consultation, staff and patient education, and maintenance of an evidence-based practice through use of and participation in research studies. Recommendations for care management are evidence-based, cost-effective, and individualized for the specific patient situations.

WOC nurses lead performance improvement projects that successfully reduce the percentage of patients who develop pressure ulcers and adverse events related to wound complications. They are committed to cost-effective, evidence-based, appropriate health care solutions. Their ability to provide optimal patient care and reduce costs at the same time is achieved through:

• Program development and implementation
• Implementation of programs toward litigation reduction
• Expert witnessing and expert chart review
• Education, writing, strategic planning or consultation about advanced therapies
• Review and consultation of facility product formularies and equipment use
• Telehealth development
• Resource team development
• Performance improvement in prevalence and incidence process through data tracking and analysis
• Comprehensive patient management plans that have a dual focus on complication prevention and disease state management.
• Appropriate resource allocation and individualized patient care is emphasized to optimize outcomes.
• Guidelines for caregivers and education to ensure outcome-focused patient care in all care delivery settings.