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SWAN Week 2025

We are the Champions for Skin Wellness

September 15-19, 2025

WOC Institute Program Logos_SWAN.png

Celebrating SWANs across Canada

SWAN Week celebrates the impact of Skin Wellness Associate Nurses (SWANs) in advancing wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) care across Canada. This year’s theme—We are the Champions for Skin Wellness—highlights the leadership, competency, and day-to-day contributions of SWANs in every care setting.

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With 300+ active SWANs and SWAN students in our growing Community of Practice, this week recognizes the nurses who champion evidence-based practice, mentor colleagues, and improve patient outcomes alongside Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOCs).

Who are SWANs?

SWANs are LPNs, RPNs, or diploma-prepared RNs who have completed the CNA-accredited SWAN Program.  They are respected nurse leaders and integral members of their organization’s wound, ostomy, and continence leadership team. 

 

SWANs:

  • Work collaboratively with NSWOCs and interprofessional teams.

  • Perform focused assessment and support care planning for skin, wound, ostomy, and continence needs.

  • Coach and mentor direct care staff, building capacity across units and facilities.

  • Apply evidence-based practice, recommend appropriate products, and help navigate referrals.

  • Contribute to quality improvement and cost-effective care.

How SWANs are “Champions for Skin Wellness”

  • Patient-centred leadership: SWANs elevate care at the bedside while guiding teams to adopt best practices.

  • Capacity building: They upskill nursing teams, creating confident, autonomous clinicians and consistent standards of care.

  • Better outcomes: SWAN-led projects and case reviews help reduce wound prevalence and accelerate healing.

  • System impact: SWANs support efficient, appropriate product selection and contribute to cost-effective care plans.

Impact in Practice - The SWAN Difference:

“Our SWAN has been indispensable in strengthening wound care on our unit. One shift each week is dedicated to a skin project overseen by an NSWOC, and they lead reviews of our most clinically complex wounds. On other shifts, they act as a go-to resource for treatment plans and coaching. Since introducing the role, we’ve seen a marked reduction in wounds, including a heel ulcer once considered non-healable that is now nearly closed. They also worked with nursing and pharmacy to secure the right ostomy supplies for a resident with a high-output ileostomy, resulting in significant improvement in peristomal skin.”
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