Wholly owned and operated by Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC)
Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN™) Program
For practical nurses and diploma RNs who aspire to become respected nurse leaders and integral members of their organization’s wound, ostomy, and continence leadership team, the CNA-accredited Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN™) Program is the only program in Canada that offers: competency and evidence-informed advanced knowledge in wound, ostomy and continence management; confidence to transfer that knowledge into practice; recognition and respect for your competencies through the nationally recognized SWAN™ designation; and continuous learning and lifelong support through mentorship and collaboration in a SWAN™-Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOC) team.
SWAN™s are uniquely recognized for their advanced knowledge and their contributions as wound, ostomy and continence nurse champions in their workplaces and communities across Canada.
Program Goal
The goal of the (SWAN™) Program is to educate and prepare more skilled wound, ostomy and continence nurses across the spectrum of care (e.g. acute care, long-term care and homecare). Graduates will have an enhanced ability to provide optimal care for individuals with wound, ostomy and continence issues as members of a collaborative NSWOC team. The program is designed to provide non-specialty nurses the ability to provide optimal wound, ostomy and continence care under the direction of the NSWOC, Clinical Nurse Specialist (Wound, Ostomy or Continence) or Physician and to be integral members of the WOC team.
Why was the program developed?
The Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) WOC Institute developed the SWAN™ Program in response to the growing need in Canada for healthcare professionals with advanced wound, ostomy and continence knowledge. The NSWOCC and WOC Institute developed the paced online SWAN™ program as a means to support and empower NSWOCs and improve clinical outcomes by enhancing wound, ostomy and continence care teams.
Program Outcomes
Program Outline
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5-month, competency and standards of practice-based:
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3 sections (wound, ostomy & continence)
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26 paced, online modules
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Self-directed clinical preceptorship
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Ongoing mentorship with CNA certified NSWOCs
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Individualized support from an Academic Advisor
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Bi-weekly interactive learning sessions
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Course Length
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Two cohorts per year starting in February and August respectively.
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Courses are five (5) months long.
Topics Covered
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Integumentary System
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Wounds
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Ostomies
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Continence Care
Important Dates and Deadlines
Cohort | Start date | End Date | Application Deadline | Graduation |
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Fall Cohort | Third Monday in August | Late January | 31/05/2025 | At the NSWOCC National Conference in May |
Winter Cohort | Third Monday in January | Late June | 15/10/2025 | At the NSWOCC National Conference in May |
How is the SWAN Program different from the NSWOC Program?
The NSWOC Program and SWAN Program serve complementary but distinct purposes in wund, ostomy and continence nursing. NSWOC graduates emerge as clinical experts and leaders, equipped to manage unpredictable and complex patient scenarios, while SWAN graduates serve as valuable team members, managing stable patients under guidance.
The programs' differences in educational level, clinical depth, and leadership preparation are critical to their roles within healthcare teams. However, both programs play a vital role in optimizing patient outcomes and supporting system-wide efficiency in wound, ostomy, and continence care.
Team Roles and Dynamics:
NSWOCs and SWANs work collaboratively within the wound, ostomy and continence team structure. NSWOCs take on the leadership and consultation roles, whereas SWANs provide support in managing routine cases. This collaborative dynamic ensures that patients receive high-quality care, while also fostering the professional development of SWANs under the mentorship of NSWOCs.
Economic Impact and System Efficiency:
By delegating stable and predictable cases to SWANs, healthcare teams can ensure that NSWOCs focus on more complex cases, enhancing system efficiency. This division of labor allows for optimal use of each nurse’s skills, potentially reducing healthcare costs while maintaining high standards of care.
NSWOC Program
Educational Requirements
The NSWOC Program is a 12-month advanced program at the Master’s level, requiring a Bachelor of Nursing (BN/BScN) or equivalent degree for entry.
Program Duration
The NSWOC Program is longer (12 months), reflecting its in-depth, specialized curriculum that includes 225 hours of clinical placements.
Clinical Placement and Preceptorship
NSWOC students undergo 225 hours of clinical placements (two weeks of 75 hours per course x3) that emphasize both the clinical and leadership aspects of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (WOC) care.
Leadership / Collaboration
NSWOC graduates are prepared as clinical specialists and leaders in WOC nursing. Their education equips them with high-level critical thinking skills to manage complex and unpredictable patient care, and to lead teams as consultants.
Scope of Practice
NSWOCs are expected to manage a broad range of WOC care, including unpredictable patient scenarios, given their advanced training in critical thinking and clinical judgment. Their role involves complex problem-solving and leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
SWAN Program
Educational Requirements
The SWAN Program is a 5-month program designed for Practical Nurses or Diploma Registered Nurses. It prepares them to work above a generalist level but does not involve the same depth of advanced practice training as the NSWOC Program.
Program Duration
The SWAN Program is shorter, at 5 months, reflecting a more focused, practical approach to developing skills under supervision, particularly for stable and predictable patient scenarios.
Clinical Placement and Preceptorship
SWAN students work through a self-directed preceptorship in which they manage specific clinical scenarios under the guidance of an NSWOC, reflecting a more task-oriented, supervised learning experience.
Leadership / Collaboration
SWAN graduates are positioned to be members of WOC teams, working collaboratively under the guidance of NSWOCs. They are practical nurse leaders but are primarily responsible for predictable and stable patients.
Scope of Practice
SWANs focus on managing stable and predictable patients, deferring to NSWOCs for patients who require more complex care. This is due to the more limited training scope of the SWAN Program, which emphasizes practical skills rather than theoretical knowledge or leadership roles.
Points of differentiation | NSWOC® | SWAN™ |
|---|---|---|
CNA Accreditation | Program is accredted by the CNA. | Program is accredted by the CNA. |
Students are: | Registered Nurses with a Baccalaureate Degree and/or Nurse Practioners | Licensed/Registered Practical Nurses and/or Registered Nurses with a Diploma |
Education Pre-requisite | BN/BScN or Equivalent | Practical Nurse or Diploma Nurse |
Academic level | Masters level | Practical nurse |
Cohorts | Applications are received twice per year in the English program (February and August) and once per year in the French program (August). | Two English cohorts per year starting in February and August respectively. |
Length of program | 12 months | 5 months |
Academic Tuition + applicable fees | Academic tuition: $6,000 CAD
Total: approx. $6,196 CAD | Academic tuition: $3,000 CAD
Total: approx. $3,186 CAD |
Depth of material coverage | In depth, +++ Critical thinking | Above generalist level |
Clinical Placement | 225 hours of clinical placements | Self-directed, student works through specific clinical scenarios under the guidance of an NSWOC |
Goal of program | Graduate clinical specialists / experts and leaders in wound, ostomy and continence nursing | Graduate practical nurse leaders |
Expectation of graduate | Graduates will lead wound, ostomy, and continence teams as clinical specialists and consultants in wound, ostomy and continence care. | Graduates will be WOC team members and work in collaboration with NSWOCs. |
Nationallly-recognized Designation | NSWOC® | SWAN™ |
CNA Certification | WOCC(C) upon passing the CNA Certification Exam at the end of the program | None currently available. |
Translate Theory into Practice
After Sharon Hunter graduated from the CNA-accredited Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN™) program, she felt much more confident in promoting herself as an expert and resource within the field of wound care.
SWAN™ program graduates gain evidence-informed, advanced knowledge in the tri-specialty areas of wound, ostomy, and continence that they can confidently translate into practice. Not only can this confidence help registered practical nurses/licensed practical nurses and diploma RNs like Shanon advocate for their own skills as professionals, but advocate for patients’ needs too.