What is a Wound Care Nurse?

(& How to
Become One)
February 23, 2021
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By: Indeed Editorial Team

Becoming a wound care nurse is an excellent way to channel your compassion and
commitment to healing people. If you are interested in this career, it is important to
understand what the requirements are. In this article, we will discuss what a wound care
nurse is, their roles and responsibilities, successful skillsets to have, average salaries
and how to become a wound care nurse yourself.

What is a wound care nurse?

A wound care nurse is a specialized nurse who assesses and treats complex patient
wounds, including ulcers, burns, lacerations and ostomies. They also create care plans
for medical teams, patients and their caregivers to follow to help wounds heal and
prevent a recurrence. Wound care nurses work closely with doctors and other members
of patient care teams to determine the best course of treatment for wounds and ensure
that treatment plans are followed carefully.

Wound care nurses work in a variety of health care settings where patients have
wounds, including hospital operating rooms; critical care; and intensive care units,
nursing homes, hospices and patient homes. Some wound care nurses specialize in a
particular type of care, such as caring for ostomies, working with diabetic patients or
foot care.

What does a wound care nurse do?

Wound care nurses perform different tasks depending on where they work and the
patients they treat. However, all wound care nurses focus on the assessment and
treatment of patient wounds. Some common duties of wound care nurses include:

 Assessing complex patient wounds when they develop or when patients are
admitted
 Cleaning patient wounds to remove bacteria and debris and minimize the risk of
infection
 Dressing patient wounds to create a barrier against bacteria
 Determining appropriate treatment to help wounds heal, such as regular cleaning,
antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy or surgery
  Teaching patients and caregivers how to treat and dress wounds to assist healing
and prevent infection after discharge.
 Giving verbal instruction and writing down a care plan for patients to follow at
home
 Completing paperwork for patient records and insurance reimbursement

Essential skills for wound care nurses

Wound care nurses use a variety of technical and people skills to succeed in their roles.
Hospitals and other health care employers look for wound care nurses that possess the
following skills:

Diagnostic skills

Wound care nurses rely on their diagnostic skills to assess patient wounds and
determine the best way to treat them. These skills allow them to determine the likely
cause of a wound, how advanced the wound is and the most suitable course of
treatment.

Knowledge and technical skills

Wound care nurses need a comprehensive knowledge of wounds, common treatment

options and how to apply them. They must also know the signs of infection and how to
treat them. Some treatment options, such as wound vacuum-assisted closures, can be
challenging to administer, so wound care nurses need effective technical skills.

Patience

Wound care nurses rely on their patience to work with busy medical care professionals,
scared and frustrated patients and patients who are reluctant to comply with their
treatment plans. Patience helps these nurses manage all kinds of workplace challenges
and provide the best patient care.

Respect and compassion

Seeking care for wounds and other medical issues can be challenging for patients.
Wound care nurses who are respectful and compassionate when handling their patients'
situations and feelings can develop the rapport they need to provide the best possible
care.

Written and verbal skills

Wound care nurses need strong verbal communication skills to discuss treatment
options with medical care teams, patients and their caregivers. Patients and caregivers
do not usually have a strong medical knowledge, so it is important to explain treatment
plans in non-technical terms that are easy to understand. Strong written communication
skills are also required to complete patient charts and paperwork accurately and
efficiently.

Enthusiasm for learning

Preferred wound care procedures and techniques are regularly introduced and revised
to provide the best care for patients. Wound care nurses should be enthusiastic about
learning new developments in their specialty to help their patients.

Related: Communication Skills: Definition and Examples

The average salary for wound care nurses

Wound care nurses working in the United States earn an average salary of $1,392 per
week. However, salaries can vary substantially, ranging from $300 to $3,300 per week.
Experience and education are the greatest indicators of salary in this profession.

The most experienced wound care nurses with the highest qualifications typically earn
more money than entry-level wound care nurses with just a bachelor's degree. The
location and healthcare setting you work in may also affect the salary you receive as a
wound care nurse.

How to become a wound care nurse

Follow these steps if you are interested in becoming a wound care nurse:

1. Get a nursing degree.

2. Get a registered nurse license.
3. Work as a registered nurse.
4. Complete a wound care course.
5. Earn wound care certification.
6. Update your resume.
7. Apply for wound care nurse positions.

1. Get a nursing degree

You must obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or an advanced nursing degree to

become certified in wound care. Bachelor's degrees usually take four years to complete,
but some accelerated programs may award your degree in three years.

During this time, you will participate in classroom instruction and clinical placement,
which provides practical experience in nursing as well as wound care. You may pursue
an advanced nursing degree if you are considering taking on a leadership role or
becoming a nurse educator in the future.
2. Get a registered nurse license

After earning your degree, you may obtain your registered nurse license which is a
prerequisite for obtaining your wound care license. To be eligible for the license, you
must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-
RN).

Overseen by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, this multiple-choice

examination tests your knowledge of safe and effective patient care environments,
health promotion and maintenance and your psychosocial and physiological integrity.

Once you pass this exam, you can apply for a registered nursing license in your state.
You must apply through your local state board of nursing. If you want to practice in
another state, you must apply through its board.

You will need to keep your registered nursing license current throughout your nursing
career. Requirements vary from state to state, but they often include paying an annual
license fee, practicing nursing and earning continual education units.

3. Work as a registered nurse

Working as a registered nurse while you are completing your specialized training in
wound care will give you some paid experience in nursing. This practical experience is
viewed favorably when you are applying for specialized nursing roles. Aspiring wound
care nurses also need a year of clinical experience before applying for certification.
Working with patients in areas where they often have wounds, such as the critical care
and oncology departments, provides the most valuable experience.

Most healthcare facilities require candidates to have some practical nursing experience.
Typically, hospitals and other healthcare employers will let you schedule your work
hours around your upcoming coursework and exam timetable.

Read more: 10 Nursing Interview Questions and Answers

4. Complete a wound care course

While working as a registered nurse, you should complete a wound care course. This
course provides the specialized information you need to earn your certification. You
should enroll in a wound care program approved by the organization that will provide
your certification.

Completing this kind of program typically takes between two months and one year.
During this time, you will receive classroom instruction, either in a traditional class or
online, and practical experience. Some programs allow you to specialize in a particular
wound care area, such as foot care or ostomy care.
5. Earn wound care certification

Wound care certification is required to work as a wound care nurse. Some of the most
common certifications include:

 Wound, Ostomy and Continence certification, issued by the Wound, Ostomy and
Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
 Certified Wound Specialist certification, issued by the American Board of Wound
Management
 Wound Care Certification, issued by the National Alliance of Wound Care and
Ostomy

The WOCNCB also issues a Foot Care certification for foot care specialists as well as
an Advanced Practice Wound, Ostomy or Continence certification. The WOCNCB's
certifications are the most commonly recognized in the field. However, if you want to
work at a particular hospital or healthcare facility, you should ask if it prefers one
certification over another.

Your education and experience should qualify you to take the certification body's
examinations. You can usually choose to get certified in several specialties. Passing the
exams grants you wound care certification, which will be valid for a set period of time.
You must participate in ongoing education and pay a renewal fee to keep your
certification current.

6. Update your resume

Once you have gained certification, you are qualified to start working as a wound care
nurse. Before applying for open positions, you should update your resume to reflect
your new specialty. It should highlight your wound care certification and specialty
education, along with any experience you have working with wound care. Include the
keywords you see in the job listings to align your skills and qualifications with the
employers' expectations.

Read more: Guide to Updating Your Resume

7. Apply for wound care nurse positions

Use your updated resume to apply to vacant wound care positions. Review the desired
qualifications to ensure that you are a suitable applicant for these roles. Attach a
customized cover letter to each application that highlights your suitability for the specific
positions.

FAQ about wound care nurses

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about wound care nurses and
their work:

Why do people become wound care nurses?

People typically become wound care nurses because they find this work very rewarding.
They enjoy the high degree of patient interaction and find it satisfying to watch their
wounds heal. Working as a wound care nurse is a good, natural fit for people who are
very caring as well as passionate about helping others.

Why are wound care nurses important?

Wound care nurses are important because they have more specialized knowledge of
wounds and their care than most nurses. Patients rely on this knowledge to make a full
recovery and return to health. Patients working with wound care nurses are likely to heal
faster and have less chance of developing infections. If infections do result, wound care
nurses can resolve them before they compromise their patients' health. Wound care
nurses also empower their patients to continue their treatment after they are
discharged.

What is the career outlook for wound care nurses?

Demand for wound care nurses is set to increase as the population ages, considering
seniors are most vulnerable to wounds. The growing prevalence of diseases such as
obesity and diabetes, which both have links to wounds, is also encouraging healthcare
facilities to hire more wound care nurses. Wound prevention is also a growing focus for
hospitals, as wound care can be expensive. Many hospitals are hiring more full-time
wound care nurses to reduce this financial burden.