Closing the Gap: Increasing Access to Multi-Level Wound Management Continuing Education

Purpose of Poster:Describe a successful model for providing accessible, high-quality, technology-enhanced wound management continuing education to healthcare professionals across settings.

Objective of Project:Expand access to multi-level wound management education: 1) preparing nurses for specialty practice in wound care and 2) collaborating with wound care specialists to teach wound care fundamentals within their organizations.

Background and Methods: Access to wound care continuing education, for nurses and health care professionals in medically-underserved and health professional shortage areas, is urgently needed because of growing numbers of individuals with chronic wounds in an aging population, a sharp rise in diabetes and obesity, and increasing care costs. In 2002, with grant support from the Health Resources Services Administration a university school of nursing in the Pacific Northwest established a continuing education program, Wound Management Education for Nurses (WMEN), to address this need. In 2012 the program includes a 130-hour WOCN-accredited specialty preparation course (WMEP), an annual wound management conference, a 30-hour wound management fundamentals course (WMFC), and online self-study courses.  The program continues to add offerings and integrate new technologies and methodologies that broaden access to evidence-based wound management education.

Outcomes:  Enrollment in WMEN offerings has surpassed projections for a decade: WMEP has trained 290 wound nurse specialists; the annual conference has had 1763 registrants; online courses have attracted numerous participants; and two courses of WMFC (new 2012) had 90 registrants, exceeding projections by 180%.  Two agencies will pilot electronic access to the WMFC in 2013 enabling their employees to complete course requirements at home and work. A variety of assessment methods (reflective assignments, self-assessment tests, case scenarios, skill demonstrations, course evaluations, and national  wound care certification) have been useful in demonstrating skill acquisition, content integration, and enhancements to patient care and nursing practice.   

Supported by Division of Nursing, BHPr, HRSA, DHHS, #D11HP22210.