What is a WOC Nurse?
WOC Nurse stands for Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse, you may know them as Ostomy Nurses. They are specially trained and certified RN's, who specialize in helping patients learn to care for and manage their ostomy. It's reasonable to insist on a visit from a WOC Nurse prior to discharge from the hospital.
Official Definition: Wound, ostomy, and continence nursing is a nursing specialty involved with the treatment of patients with acute and chronic wounds, patients with an ostomy, and patients with incontinence conditions. Nurses in this specialty are often referred to as wound, ostomy, and continence nurses.
After discharge from the hospital, WOC Nurses continue to be your go-to expert resource for troubleshooting ostomy issues.
What if you have don't access to a WOC Nurse?
Through the Ostomy 101 App, you can schedule an appointment to speak to a WOC Nurse in your own home, through your smart device. They're even available on nights and weekends.