Position statement about the role and scope of practice for wound care providers.

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses SocietyTM (WOCN) is a clinician-based, professional organization of members, who treat individuals with wounds, ostomies and incontinence, and are committed to cost-effective and outcome-based health care (WOCNWOCNCB, 2008). The WOCN Society is dedicated to assuring the availability of appropriate care for individuals with wounds, ostomies, and incontinence, because patients deserve health care that assists them in maximizing their functional status. The WOCN Society recognizes that to fulfill its mission of ensuring access to quality care to growing numbers of patients with wound care needs, there is a need to extend education to other providers. The WOCN Society recognizes three levels of wound care providers: WOC advanced practice registered nurse, WOC specialty nurse and wound treatment associate, whose scopes of practice will be defined. The WOCN Society endorses the appropriate utilization of each of level of wound care provider.