Brookings Health’s Wound Center Team Achieves Wound Specialization Certification

Wound Care Providers

As of this winter, all three wound care professionals at Brookings Health System’s Wound Center have earned their wound care specialization certification from the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board. 

By completing the necessary educational and clinical patient contact hours to become certified, Brookings Health’s Wound Center teams demonstrates they possess the knowledge and skills necessary to identify, assess and treat wounds across practice settings. 

Erica Sanderson, RN, now holds the credential Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN). She cares for patients with wounds caused by medical treatments, diseases or injuries. She helps to assess and determine the cause of a wound, identifies appropriate treatment options and develops wound care plans for patients. She also introduces techniques to prevent skin breakdown and help wounds, abscesses and feeding tube sites heal quickly.  

Jaclyn Nielsen, RN, and Katie Jones, CNP, both hold the Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON) credential. In addition to providing specialized care for wounds like Sanderson, Nielsen and Jones are also certified to provide post-surgery treatment and care for patients with ostomies, which are surgical openings that allow for the elimination of bodily waste. For ostomies, they evaluate and recommend pouching systems that provide containment and security. They also develop individual rehabilitation plans for ostomy patients. 

Wound care nurses and advanced practice providers meet the growing need for prevention and treatment of acute and chronic wounds, including pressure injuries, and the many complications associated with wounds. Wound care specialists are often consulted for the most complex and challenging wound cases such as non-healing and chronic wounds, atypical wounds, multiple wounds, wounds with mixed causes, and wounds that mimic other conditions.  

Brookings Health System’s Wound Center offers comprehensive wound healing. The wound center treats individuals with wounds caused by medical treatments, disease or injuries. It also offers hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy to help patients with difficult to heal wounds. Wound care experts are dedicated to healing wounds, preventing lower limb loss and optimizing outcomes for patients. For more information on wound care, please visit brookingshealth.org/WoundCare.