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Specialty practice, advanced practice, and WOC nursing: current professional issues and future opportunities
1School of Nursing, La Salle University, 1900 W Olney Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA.
Summary
The role of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (WOC) nurses is evolving. This article clarifies advanced, specialty, and WOC nursing practice to define expectations within the healthcare system.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Practice
- Healthcare Administration
Background:
- Increasing interest in defining the WOC nurse role.
- Existing ambiguity regarding specialty vs. advanced practice for WOC nurses.
Purpose of the Study:
- Differentiate advanced, specialty, and WOC nursing practice.
- Examine legal definitions, education, licensure, certifications, and practice settings.
- Discuss implications for the future of WOC nursing in the US healthcare system.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of nursing practice definitions.
- Review of legal and educational frameworks.
- Examination of certification requirements and practice environments.
Main Results:
- Clear distinctions are drawn between advanced practice, specialty practice, and WOC nursing.
- Identified areas of overlap and divergence in requirements and practice.
- Future trends and challenges for WOC nursing are highlighted.
Conclusions:
- Clarifying WOC nursing roles is crucial for professional development.
- Understanding these distinctions is vital for healthcare policy and education.
- WOC nursing must adapt to the evolving American healthcare landscape.