Save the Date for SWAN® Week 2026 - September 14-18, 2026 - "Quality Improvement SOARS with SWANs!"
- NSWOCC
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
The NSWOCC Board of Directors and the Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN®) Community of Practice are proud to celebrate SWAN Week 2026:
“Quality improvement SOARS with SWANs”
SWAN Week 2026, September 14–18, celebrates the impact of Skin Wellness Associate Nurses (SWANs) in advancing wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) care across Canada. This year’s theme highlights the leadership, competency, and day-to-day contributions of SWANs in every care setting — and the important role they play in advancing quality improvement throughout our health care system.
With 500+ active SWANs and SWAN students participating in our growing SWAN Community of Practice, this week recognizes the nurses who champion evidence-based practice, mentor and educate colleagues, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and improve patient outcomes alongside Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOCs).
This week, join us in celebrating SWANs, who make a difference in wound, ostomy and continence care every day.
Show Your SWAN Pride!
Are you a SWAN? Send us a photo of yourself in your SWAN lab coat, SWAN merchandise, or showing your SWAN pride!
Throughout SWAN Week, we want to feature members of our growing SWAN community from across the country.
Whether you're at work, with your colleagues, or simply showing off your SWAN gear, submit a photo that we can share through our SWAN Week communications and social media.
Recognize a SWAN or SWAN–NSWOC Team
Know a SWAN who's doing incredible work? Is there a SWAN–NSWOC team making a difference in your organization or community? We want to hear about them!
Submit a message of recognition, a story, a case example, or simply a few words of thanks celebrating the contributions of one or more SWANs. Recognition can be big or small — we want to highlight the everyday leadership, collaboration, quality improvement, and patient impact happening across the country.
Selected stories and messages will be shared throughout SWAN Week 2026, including in our special SWAN Week newsletter and other communications, helping us recognize and celebrate the outstanding work of SWANs from coast to coast.
Upcoming meetings & events during SWAN Week
Development of a New Evidence-Based Skin Tear Assessment and Classification Toolkit for Indigenous Skin Tones
Tuesday, September 15
3:00pm ET (12:00pm PT)
The Science of Slough - Understanding its impact and optimal treatment
Thursday, September 17
6pm ET (3pm PT)
More events to be announced soon
About the SWAN® Program
For practical nurses and diploma RNs who aspire to become respected nurse leaders and integral members of their organization’s wound, ostomy, and continence leadership team, the CNA-accredited Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN) Program is the only program in Canada that offers: competency and evidence-informed advanced knowledge in wound, ostomy and continence management; confidence to transfer that knowledge into practice; recognition and respect for your competencies through the nationally recognized SWAN designation; and continuous learning and lifelong support through mentorship and collaboration in a SWAN-Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOC®) team.
SWANs are uniquely recognized for their advanced knowledge and their contributions as wound, ostomy and continence nurse champions in their workplaces and communities across Canada.
