I am Wound Care Certified Clinician, Now What? will be  presented by Michelle Moore MSN, RN, WCC, WCEI Instructor at this year’s Wild on Wounds National Conference in Las Vegas this September 7-10, 2011

This session will bring the power of the WCC to the forefront. We’ll discuss the ways in which to market the credential to the industry, from self promoting of the clinician and how to use social media/blogging to speaking, authoring of articles to spotlight the advanced credential. We’ll look at incorporating other credentials to the creation of wound care team

For more information about the Wound Care Education Institute, please visit http://www.wcei.net.

Click Here To Register for the Wild on Wounds National Conference

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Paying It Forward and making It Count will be presented by Nancy Morgan RN,BSN,MBA,WOCN,WCC,CWCMS, Co-Founder of WCEI and Donna Sardina RN,MHA,WCC,CWCMS , Co-Founder of WCEI at this year’s Wild on Wounds National Conference in Las Vegas September 7-10,2011

In 2010 we achieved over 10,000 Wound Care Certified clinicians to our family. This has given us an idea of the incredible size and strength of our community of clinicians. As we grow and evolve in our careers, many of us want to find ways to “pay forward” the opportunities we’ve had and help to build the community of the future. In this session, we’ll explore ways to share our talents through mentoring, precepting and the training of others. Topics include preceptor tools, presentation and training tips, and how to build wound care teams. We’ll look at exciting new ways to inspire others and find ways to use our experience to create a new career in the industry and give back to our communities.

For more information about the Wound Care Education Institute, please visit http://www.wcei.net.

Click Here To Register for the Wild on Wounds National Conference

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photo credit: valcanno

Happy New Year from the Wound Care Education Institute. As 2011 gets under way, many people make New Year Resolutions of one sort or another. Maybe some of the resolutions include losing weight, get organized, or buying a new house. Others may include to take a long needed vacation or spend more time with one’s family. Some focus their resolution on their careers.

For those of us providing health care, more specifically wound care, one of our career resolutions may be to heal more wounds. For those of us that are Wound Care Certified, we can use what we have learned to stomp out those pesky wounds we see on a daily basis. We can help educate the patients and the family members or loved ones of the patients we treat. We can teach them to care for their wounds and their overall health in ways that they may not have understood. This may include teaching them about their ‘disease’ processes or simply about their medications and how to apply their wound care dressings.

Others who may not be Wound Care Certified yet, may make their New Year Resolution to finally get Wound Care Certified. The Wound Care Education Institute can’t wait to make your Resolution possible. Its rewarding to see others who were looking forward to taking the Skin & Wound Management Course and NAWC Certification Examination. Recently I had the opportunity to speak with two nurses, Donna and Stacy, who enrolled in the class and passed the exam.

Donna is a nurse who recently took the class in early 2010. In fact she went through the Preceptor Program to be eligible for sitting for the NAWC Exam. I was speaking with Donna recently and I learned that she found a new position in Pennsylvania as a Wound Care Nurse at a Hyperbaric Wound care Center. I remember being Donna’s Preceptor and the challenges she had to go through. She made some sacrifices and I remember clearly that she said, “This is what I want to do. I don’t care what I have to do, but nothing is going to get in the way of me becoming Wound Care Certified. I will be a Wound Care Certified Nurse.”

How’s that for a Resolution? Good luck Donna! I know you’ll be an awesome Wound Care Nurse!

I had an opportunity to work with another nurse, Stacy, in a different capacity. She worked for a DME (Durable Medical Equipment) company as a Clinical Support Nurse. While working for a wound care center, Stacy helped out in various ways that made getting our patients what they needed from the DME much easier and seamless. At some point, I had the opportunity to visit the DME office and inservice their sales personnel about Wound Care and some more common wounds that we typically see in a clinic. Stacy and I remained in touch and she showed interest in becoming Wound Care Certified. I encouraged her to go for it and take the class. Recently, Stacy contacted me and said she would be taking the class in Boston in November. Due to circumstances, she ended up switching classes and attended the class in Carolina. It was awesome to hear that she loved the class as well as learning all about wounds and wound care from her instructor. It was even better to hear her excited voice when she called with the good news that she passed the exam.

WCEI loves to hear these stories. We know that there are many more out there about those that wanted to take the course and eventually did and successfully passed the exam. We know that there are more Resolutions out there to get Wound Care Certified.

What Resolutions do you have for 2011?

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I saw this video recently on YouTube and it got me thinking about assessment skills when it comes to wounds. As Wound Care Certified Professionals, we are held to a higher standard and our biggest skill and tool is our assessment skill set. The video above is a fun video and if your awareness is top notch you may have seen the Moonwalking Bear during the first segment of the video. However, if you didn’t see the Moonwalking Bear, you may have seen it in the second segment.

Didn’t see it? Stop reading here and take another looksie at the video. It was easy to miss. Thats my point. What are you missing in your wound assessments? Are we so busy, just ‘changing the bandage’ and getting to the end of our day to miss what may be happening with our patients? I know you may be saying, that we are forced to move quickly because we have so many patients on our case load or to see during the course of our day. It doesn’t take long to miss something that may be vital to the outcome of our wound care.

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Introducing the DWC® credential (Diabetic Wound Certified).  This is an advanced, specialized certification in diabetic wound management.  It demonstrates a candidate’s proficiency and mastery of essential knowledge and skills of diabetic wound management above basic wound care certification.  Diabetic wound management focuses on overall diabetic wound care and promotion of an optimal wound healing environment, including prevention, therapeutic interventions and rehabilitative interventions.

Who is eligible?
The DWC credential is open to healthcare professionals who currently hold an accredited certification in wound care. (WCC®, CWS®, CWCN®, CWON® and CWOCN®) in addition to:

• Hold a current, unrestricted license as an LPN/LVN, RN, NP, PT, PTA, OT, MD, DPM, DO or PA
• Document active involvement in the care of wound care patients, or in management, education or research directly related to wound care for at least one (1) year post basic wound care certification
• Successfully complete an NAWC approved Diabetic Skin and Wound Management Course
• Receive a passing score on the Diabetic Wound Certification Examination “The DWC” credential is valid for five (5) years

When is it available?
DWC classes and certification examination will be available beginning the first quarter of 2011 and on a regular basis thereafter.  Classes are independent of the WCEI wound and skin care course.
Registration Now Open

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

For more information about this upcoming course or to become Wound Care Certified, please visit WCEI at  http://www.wcei.net

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Anyone can attend our WCEI course!  From licensed healthcare providers, to sales and marketing professionals or anybody interested in wound care. All are welcome!

WCC® Certification
For those that are licensed healthcare providers and want to pursue Wound Care Certification we have partnered with National Alliance of Wound Care® (NAWC®) to provide the WCC® exam at our course locations and various testing sites throughout the United States. Click here for course content.

DWC® Certification
The DWC credential is open to healthcare professionals who currently hold an accredited certification in wound care. (WCC®, CWS®, CWCN®, CWON® and CWOCN®). Click here for course requirements.

CWCMS™ Certification
For sales and marketing professionals that want to pursue the CWCMS™ (Certified Wound Care Market Specialist) exam, it’s offered onsite at any of our course locations throughout the US.

Which application is right for you?
There are a variety of healthcare providers and industry professionals that attend our courses and pursue certifications, and we have created a simple way to navigate to the right application based on your area of interest

• Are you a licensed healthcare provider – LPN, RN, PT, PTA, OT, NP, MD pursuing Wound Care Certification? Click here for information on course with exam
  

• If you do not have the required 2 years full time or 4 years part time wound care experience, click here for the Preceptor Pathway information

• If you hold a current, unrestricted license as an LPN/LVN, RN, NP, PT, PTA, OT, MD, DPM, DO or PA and are interested in achieving the Diabetic Wound Certification, click here for course requirements
  

• Are you a sales or marketing professional pursing the CWCMS™ Certification? Click here to access the CWCMS™ information

• Are you already a WCC® interested in recertification? Click here to access the recertification information

• Are you simply Interested in taking the course? Click here for course only information

• Ready to register? Click here for dates & locations
  

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Trying to find the best wound care resources can be difficult. Now, nurses, physicians, therapists as well as students can use a new revolutionary wound care resource tool offered exclusively from WCEI. Introducing the WoundCentral iPhone APP (Blackberry Users…Coming Soon)

WOUND CENTRAL APP
“Wound Central” puts everything you need as a clinician in one centralized location and in the palm of your hand!

The Wound Central iPhone app features include:

• Wound care image library
• Step-by-step treatment videos
• Anatomical reference guides
• Keyword search function
• Instant Information on virtually
every type of wound including:

o    Arterial
o    Venous
o    Draining
o    Yellow
o    Epiboly
o   and much more…

iPhone Users
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

To Report APP ISSUES CLICK HERE

For more information about becoming Wound Care Certified, please visit WCEI at http://www.wcei.net

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Description: Sterile white powder in a single-use, sterile foil laminate pouch.  The powder interacts with wound exudate and hydrates when applied to wound. Hydration with exudate causes powder to aggregate and form a moist wound dressing which seals the wound and conforms to the surface of the wound bed.

Actions: Promotes moist healing environment, high moisture vapor transpiration rate creates capillary action against the wound surface – believed to stimulate cell growth and fibroblast mobility.

Indications:

• Exuding superficial acute wounds such as skin graft donor sites and second-degree burns (partial thickness burns with exudates, maximum 10% of body surface area).
• Surgical wounds, such as post-operative wounds or dermatological excisions (only as a primary dressing over wound, not to be used as replacement for sutures).
• Chronic, slow-healing wounds such as leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, and diabetic ulcers.

Precautions:

• Wear sterile gloves to apply ALTRAZEAL dressing.
• ALTRAZEAL dressing should only be applied to a clean, moist wound surface. Apply sterile saline or similar product to moisten the wound surface before application if required.
• Do not use solutions other than sterile normal saline or equivalent to induce aggregation of dressing.
• This wound dressing should not be applied with oil-based products on the wound surface, particularly ointments, salves, or other treatments. These oil-based products will prevent proper hydration and aggregation at the wound surface.
• The dressing can be used on wounds with infection only under medical supervision with appropriate therapy and frequent monitoring.
• The dressing should be removed, e.g. with forceps or similar instruments following thorough saturation with sterile saline.
• Does not require a secondary dressing unless determined to be necessary by health care professional.   If a secondary dressing is required a non-adhesive, vapor-permeable dressing is preferred.   Petroleum based dressings and occlusive or surface contact adhesives should be avoided.
• Can remain in place up to 30 days as long as the wound produces exudate. However, the dressing should be changed if clinically necessary.   ALTRAZEAL will remain in intimate contact with the wound surface until the skin underneath heals. Areas of dressing covering intact skin will detach from the remaining dressing and flake off as particles similar to a scab.

Website:  http://www.altrazeal.com

Video :http://bit.ly/R888G

For more information about Wound Care Products or to become Wound Care Certified, Please visit http://www.wcei.net

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Prevention of Skin Breakdown Training Program

Are you looking for a Prevention of Skin Breakdown Training Program that you can use to instruct or do an inservice at your facility for your staff?

This is a CD-Rom Training program that includes everything you need.
We have done all the work for you, all you have to do is teach it.

• Based upon 2009 International Pressure Ulcer Prevention Guidelines,
  evidence based care and AHRQ clinical practice guidelines.
  
• All inclusive CD-Rom Training Program
  
• Written for any care settings – Hospitals, Long-term Care and
  Home Care
  
• PowerPoint presentation with High Resolution Wound Photos
  
• Everything you need to succeed is included in this 1-hour
  training program for prevention of pressure ulcers, diabetic,
  venous, and arterial ulcers, and moisture related skin
  breakdown.

This CD includes is intended for all Licensed Health Care Professionals. More details are listed below.

Audience: Licensed Health Care Professionals

Length: 1 hour

Objectives: Upon completion of program, participants will be able to:
1)        Identify four common causes of skin breakdown.
2)        Discuss how to identify who is at risk for skin breakdown.
3)        Explain interventions to prevent skin breakdown related to pressure,
friction, shearing and moisture.
4)        Discuss interventions to prevent skin breakdown related to diabetes,
venous insufficiency, and arterial disease.

PowerPoint Presentation Outline:
1. Common causes of skin breakdown – Pressure, friction, shearing, moisture,
vascular insufficiency, arterial insufficiency, diabetes, and trauma
2. Contributing Factors to skin breakdown
3. Determining Risk for skin breakdown
4. Positioning Interventions
5. Skin Care and Early Treatment Interventions
6. Nutritional Interventions
7. Prevention Interventions for Lower Extremity Wounds

As Wound Care Certified Professionals we need to educate our peers, staff and patients about wound care. This is another excellent tool that you could use in your teaching efforts.

For more information about this Prevention of Skin Breakdown Resource and other products or to purchase please visit http://www.woundcentral.com

For more information on becoming Wound Care Certified and the WCEI‘s Skin and Wound Management Course, please visit http://www.WCEI.net

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Why honey?

Time tested.

What do the ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Chinese, Greeks, and Romans have in common? They all recognized honey as a powerful treatment for a variety of medical conditions. In fact, records show that honey has been prized for its natural healing properties as far back as 3000 BC.^1,2

During the mid-20th century, the era of modern antibiotic medicine began – and the use of honey as a medicinal treatment fell out of favor. Although antibiotics were initially heralded as the most effective weapon against bacteria, over time antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria began to develop. Today, many pharmaceutical companies aren’t developing new antibiotics because of this growing problem.³

That’s why there’s an urgent need for a new non-antibiotic treatment to fight infection.

Extensively studied.

Extensive research demonstrates that medical-grade Manuka honey contains very powerful healing properties, making it extremely effective for use in wound care and for maintaining general health and well-being. In 1982, scientist Professor Peter Molan, MBE, discovered that honey harvested from the Manuka tree, native only to New Zealand, contained unique healing properties.

Today, Manuka honey around the world is rated by a standard now bearing Dr. Molan’s name: the Molan Gold Standard. Look for the Molan Gold Standard seal whenever you purchase Manuka honey products.

The internationally recognized standard that certifies authentic Manuka honey, named for the pioneer researcher in the field, Professor Peter Molan, MBE.

Medical-grade Manuka honey: more effective than common honey.

Manuka honey is not the same as common honey you buy in a supermarket.

The ManukaMed brand of medical-grade Manuka honey is harvested from bees that pollinate the Manuka bush (a species known as Leptospermum scoparium). This unique bush is native only to New Zealand.

Another critical difference: common honey undergoes heat treatment, which destroys important healing properties. The ManukaMed brand of medical-grade Manuka honey is finely filtered to remove all processing particles.

The result: extremely pure, highly effective medical-grade Manuka honey that has very little in common with common honey.

Your reliable source for 100% pure medical-grade Manuka honey.

Great care is taken to ensure that the ManukaMed brand of medical-grade Manuka honey products are of the highest standard in purity.

Our medical-grade Manuka honey is harvested from the Wairarapa region of New Zealand. This pristine area is preserved and protected by the New Zealand government as well as the Maori tribes.

The beehives are located in regions where there is no risk of contamination or dilution of properties. Hygienic hive management, specific harvesting protocols, and processing within a state-of-the-art complex are key features of our medical-grade Manuka honey production.

All ManukaMed brand medical-grade Manuka honey products can be traced back to their hive. And all are tested by a certified laboratory for medical qualities.

From beehive to final product, we ensure complete control over production. What’s more, we never buy Manuka honey on the open market. The ManukaMed brand of products are 100% Manuka honey and never a blend of other honeys. This high level of control and traceability is unique among companies who produce Manuka honey products for wound care.

MANUKApli can be found and purchased at WoundCentral.com

MANUKApli contains 100% medical-grade
Manuka honey.

Extensive research shows this honey:

1. Molan P. Honey: Antimicrobial Actions and Role in Disease Management. In: New Strategies Combating Bacterial Infection. Edited by Ahmad I, Aqil F. WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, 2009.
2. Pieper B. Honey-Based Dressings and Wound Care: An Option for Care in the United States. JWOCN 2009;36(1):60-66.
3. Molan P. Why Honey Works. In: Honey in Modern Wound Management. Edited by Cooper R, Molan P, White R. Wounds UK Publishing, 2009.
4. http://www.maukamedusa.com
5. http://www.woundcentral.com

For more information about becoming Wound Care Certified please visit http://www.wcei.net

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