Read these quick exam tips on wound care nurse certification. Relax! You’ll do great.
Careers in medicine are among the fastest-growing and most-rewarding occupations of today, bar none. Nursing is considered to be a labor of love, but nurses who earn their wound care nurse certification can make more money.
Wound care is a specialty in nursing that requires an enhanced level of knowledge and skills in treating patient wounds. The steps required for certification can vary from state to state.
In the United States, there are three organizations that offer wound care nurse certification and the wound care exam required, including the American Academy of Wound Management (AAWM), the National Alliance of Wound Care (NAWC), and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB).
Nurses may be required to seek out certification from one of these organizations in the course of employment. Generally, most health care facilities have a particular preference for the wound care governing body they wish their nurses to go through when seeking certification.
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The exam can be quite rigorous. Study and clinical, hands-on activities can help the nurse prepare for the wound care nurse exam. Some exam tips you might find helpful are the following:
- Schedule the exam at a local center whenever possible. Traveling to a testing center can cause fatigue and, thus, lower test scores.
- Study in groups. If a group from your facility is planning to sit for the exam, forming a study group is an excellent way to prepare for the exam. You can also find study groups, electronic flash cards and other study tools online.
- Review any study materials that your facility provides. Your facility's nursing coordinator will likely be familiar with what is required for students sitting for the exam and can be a great resource when preparing for the exam.
- Relax before the exam. Avoid alcohol and sedatives that might leave you feeling bad the next day.
- Eat breakfast before the exam. The exam is long and extensive, running between three and three and a half hours. Hunger can make you lose your concentration. A light breakfast is better than none at all.
- Dress comfortably for the exam. Dressing in layers will allow you to get comfortable if the testing center is too hot or cold for your preferences.
- Believe in yourself. Many students go into a major exam with little confidence in their skills, and their scores suffer for it. Many of the items on the wound care certification exam are based on nursing principles that you know and use daily. Rely on your gut instincts and training to help you work through the questions in order to choose the right answer.
- Know that if you're having a bad day, you can take the exam again.
Although not required by all facilities, a wound care nurse certification is a great addition to the credentials you have as a nurse. It is useful for nurses who are out of work and looking to add a shiny, new skill to an existing resume.
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