WOC Institute Report: September 2025

NSWOCC
Sep 17
4 min read

Submitted by Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc, PhD, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), FCAN, FNSWOC

The WOC Institute is pleased to report that as part of our journey towards honouring Truth and Reconciliation, we have hired Michelle Buffalo to review our programs and to collaborate with the WOC Institute program development team. The aim of this collaboration is to ensure that our courses respect Truth and Reconciliation and have cultural safety embedded into all our courses. We are looking forward to continuing on this journey and our collaboration with Michelle.

The 2024-2025 WOC Institute graduation was held during the NSWOCC National Conference held in Montreal in May 2025. We were thrilled to welcome our new NSWOC and SWAN graduates to the NSWOCC family!

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute launched the Personal Support Worker (PSW) / Healthcare Assistant & Caregiver Skin Health Course. This comprehensive program is meticulously designed to equip PSWs, Healthcare Assistants, and Caregivers with the knowledge necessary to address skin health challenges adeptly. Skin health is paramount in patient care, particularly for individuals dealing with Moisture-Associated Skin Damage (MASD), skin tears, and pressure injuries. Recognizing the pivotal role PSWs, Healthcare Assistants, and Caregivers play in preventing skin breakdown and wounds, this course is tailored to empower frontline healthcare professionals with targeted education in those key areas.

The NSWOC Program has once again reached full capacity for the Fall 2025 Cohort. Applications are now open for the Winter 2026 cohorts. Tailored for NPs, BScN/BN or equivalent RNs, this Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET®) accredited program equips professionals with specialized expertise in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence matters.

We are elated to announce the completion of 11 successful cohorts for our CNA-accredited Skin Wellness Associated Nurse (SWAN) Program. Designed for diploma-prepared RNs and RPN/LPNs, this program empowers individuals to specialize in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence concerns. This past year we also welcomed a special cohort of 90 SWANs funded by the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care. Cohort 13 applications are being accepted for the Winter 2026 cohort.

The WOC Institute is proud to share that our on-demand, self-paced courses in Wound Management (Wound Care Collaborator Course), Ostomy Management, and Advanced Wound Debridement, have attained accreditation from the esteemed CNA. This pioneering CNA accreditation for wound and ostomy management courses in Canada reaffirms NSWOCC's dedication to nursing excellence and patient outcomes, establishing us as frontrunners in the domain of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing within Canada. Our Continence Management course under review for accreditation, is open to students, learn more at https://www.wocinstitute.ca/continence. Please visit the links above to learn more about the programs and the groups rates available.

The Community Paramedic Skin and Wound Course has seen over 300 paramedics from across Canada successfully complete the course. These Paramedic Wound Associates now collaborate with community nurses, enhancing the well-being of individuals in community settings. The self-paced online program, accessible through continuous enrollment, includes mentoring from a CNA-certified NSWOC, featuring weekly office hours and personalized mentoring sessions. To learn more about the Paramedic Wound Management program please visit https://www.wocinstitute.ca/paramedics.

The Industry Skin Wellness Associate (ISWA) Program offers two levels of online, self-paced courses. Level one incorporates one or more of the ostomy, wound, or continence courses, enriching industry partners' understanding of related issues. ISWA level two aligns with the LEADS framework, fostering leadership development, knowledge enhancement, and improved communication skills for industry partners interacting with healthcare professionals in wound, ostomy, and continence domains. To learn more about the ISWA program please visit https://www.wocinstitute.ca/iswa.

The WOC Institute 2SLGBTQIA+ Basics for Health Care Professionals Course is a first of its kind in Canada. The course is offered via the https://wocinstitute.dualcode.com learning platform. This course is self-paced online and will take an estimated 6 -10 hours to complete. Course fees for non-NSWOCC Members is $50. In the coming weeks we will be offering this course free for NSWOCC Members. Stay tuned for more information on how to access this unique learning activity.

Our dedicated program development team (Cathy Downs, Carly Lindsay, Nicholas Joachimides, Juliann VanderMeer, and Kim Merritt) are continuously updating existing programs and developing new offerings. If you have a concept for a WOC Institute course or workshop, reach out to us at chair@wocinstitute.ca.

Preparations are underway for revising the WOC Institute prep course tailored for NSWOCs taking the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Certification Exam for WOCC(C). Study materials are accessible on TEAMs and integrated into our virtual study group for exam candidates. To join the study group, please contact us at registrar@wocinstitute.ca .