Enhance Ostomy Care Worldwide
with the OCA® Program
The WOCN Society proudly presents the Ostomy Care Associate™ (OCA®) Program, a comprehensive continuing education initiative designed to strengthen ostomy knowledge, empower healthcare teams, increase access to specialized ostomy care and improve patient outcomes globally. The program provides 3 major advantages to a health care facility: 1) to augment existing specialized ostomy care services, by assisting in managing patients during off-hours, assisting with discharges or providing a ward champion to troubleshoot patient needs; 2) For facilities without specialized ostomy nurses, it develops health care professionals to provide competent ostomy care, and 3) improving the standard of care for ostomy patients can reduce complications and improve patient satisfaction!
Course Objectives
Participants will gain in-depth knowledge and practical skills in stoma and related care, ensuring they can deliver optimal patient support:
- Understand Anatomy: Explore the anatomy of various stomas (colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy).
- System Overview: Learn about nursing management of different ostomies including the ostomy appliances, accessories, and personal care systems which enhance care in the hospital and independent self-care at home by the ostomate.
- Identify Complications: Recognize and address common peristomal and stomal complications. Understand when to refer patients to specialized providers.
- Procedure Knowledge: Master techniques for performing colostomy irrigation.
- Types of Fistulas: Understand and manage different fistulas (enteric, urinary) effectively.
- Tube Types and Uses: Gain insights into management of percutaneous tubes (feeding, drainage) and their clinical applications as well as preventing leaking and skin breakdown.
Join the OCA Program to elevate your team’s expertise and deliver exceptional ostomy care.
This comprehensive program is funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Convatec. The WOCN® Society does not endorse or support products or services.
Together, we can improve patient outcomes and advance ostomy care worldwide.