Founded in 1968, the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®) is the largest and most recognized professional nursing community dedicated to advancing the practice and delivery of expert healthcare to individuals with wound, ostomy, and continence care needs. Through relevant education, effective advocacy, cutting-edge science, a supportive network, and a patient-centric approach, WOCN is dedicated to enabling professional growth for 5,000+ members and improving patient outcomes.

Mission

The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society™ is a professional community dedicated to advancing the practice and delivery of expert healthcare to individuals with wound, ostomy, and continence care needs. We support our members’ practice through advocacy, education, and research.

Vision

To be the preferred community for wound, ostomy, and continence advocacy, education, and research recognized for promoting safe and effective care worldwide.

Core Values

Integrity
Demonstrated by uncompromised dedication to be a trusted, unbiased, and
credible source of evidence-based information and expertise.

 

Leadership
Demonstrated by being stewards of excellence with a common passion for
mutual respect, shared experience, and life-long learning.

 

Knowledge
Demonstrated by continuing commitment to education and research to generate and
disseminate knowledge that improves patient outcomes.

THEN & NOW: A journey through the decades of WOC Nursing

 

View Our Journey

What is a WOC Nurse?

A WOC nurse is a Registered Nurse (RN) who holds a Baccalaureate Degree or higher and completes a formal, accredited WOC full scope or specialty education program. WOC nurses can specialize in wounds, ostomies, or incontinence, and provide acute and rehabilitative needs for individuals with select disorders of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and integumentary system. WOC nurses provide direct care to people with abdominal stomas, wounds, fistulas, drains, pressure injuries, and/or continence disorders, and can serve as an educator, consultant, researcher, or administrator.

Board of Directors

Meet our current Board of Directors to learn about the dedicated team behind our advocacy, education, and research.

MEET THE BOARD

Committee Chairs

Meet our current Committee Chairs who work diligently to keep our society running at peak performance on a daily basis.

MEET THE CHAIRS

Headquarters & Staff

Meet our national office and support staff based at our headquarters location in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey.

MEET THE STAFF

WOCN Past Presidents

Meet the WOCN Past Presidents and view their terms.

WOCN Past Presidents

Dea Kent, DNP, RN, NP-C, CWOCN
2021-2023

Stephanie Yates, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, CWOCN
2019-2021

Kelly Jaszarowski, MSN, RN, CNS, CWOCN
2017–2019

Carolyn Watts, MSN, RN, CWON
2015-2017

Phyllis Kupsick, MSN, FNP-BC, CWOCN
2013-2015

Kathleen Lawrence, MSN, RN, CWOCN
2011-2013

Phyllis Bonham, PhD, MSN, RN, CWOCN, DPNAP, FAAN
2009-2011

Janice Colwell, MS, RN, CWOCN, FAAN
2007-2009

Margaret Goldberg, MSN, RN, CWOCN
2005-2007

Laurie McNichol, MSN, RN, CNS, GNP, CWOCN, CWON-AP, FAAN
2001-2005

Dorothy Doughty, MN, RN, CWOCN, FAAN
1999-2001

Bernie Cullen, MSN, RN, CWOCN
1997-1999

Ruth Bryant, MSN, RN, CWOCN
1993-1997

Kristy Wright, MBA, RN, CETN, FAAN
1989-1993

Glenda Motta, MPH, BSN, RN, CETN
1987-1989

Linda Klein, MS, BSN, RN, CETN
1985-1987

Debra Broadwell-Jackson, MN, RN, CETN
1981-1985

Bonnie Bolinger, RN (retired), CETN
1979-1981

Bettie Jackson, EdD, RN, ET
1977-1979

Patricia Zollars, RN, CETN
1975-1977

Mary-Jane Brewer, ET
1973-1975

Henrene Honesty, ET
1971-1973

Edith Lenneberg, ET (Deceased)
1969-1971

*Please note, the credentials listed above are from their time of presidency and may have changed since the end of their term.

WOCN Past Award Recipients

WOCN grants several awards designed to honor and celebrate the outstanding contributions and achievements of healthcare professionals within the field of wound, ostomy, and continence care. Meet the award recipients that made a significant impacts on patient care, education, and research in this specialized area of healthcare.

MEET the Award Recipients

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Learn the benefits of joining and about our membership types.

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