NAWCO-AWCC Exam Information and Guideline
NAWCO Advanced Wound Care Certified
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
- Analyze procedural concepts to obtain patient history:
- Review, investigate, and document the patient’s history
- current complaint and condition
- past medical
- surgical history
- medications
- allergies
- family history
- social history
- past wound history
- Evaluate patient’s physical, mental, and psychosocial status
- cognition
- overall skin condition
- circulatory
- respiratory
- neurological
- musculoskeletal
- urological
- gastrointestinal
- Read and interpret healing assessment tools and recommend clinical interventions as appropriate.
- Identify and reevaluate on an ongoing basis intrinsic factors and their potential impact on wound healing
- age
- bio-burden
- BMI
- co-morbidities
- allergies
- infection
- non-adherence
- nutrition/hydration
- mobility
- cultural beliefs
- blood flow
- tissue perfusion
- necrotic tissue
- cognitive impairment
- allergies and/or adverse reaction to treatment modalities
- Identify and reevaluate on an ongoing basis extrinsic factors and their potential impact on wound healing
- infection
- medications
- pressure
- mechanical insult
- exposure to moisture
- smoking
- stress
- radiation
- cytotoxic solutions
- bio-burden
- foreign body
- Identify circumstances indicating need for interdisciplinary consults.
- Identify and differentiate between wound types
- acute vs. chronic
- partial thickness vs. full thickness
- Identify and differentiate between wound classifications.
- Describe how wound etiology contributes to determining appropriate treatment.
- Describe and document wound assessment to include:
- location and size including presence of tunneling
- under-mining
- sinus tract(s)
- appearance of the wound bed:
- type of tissue
- color
- presence of underlying structures
- wound margins
- wound drainage:
- Type
- Amount
- Color
- Odor
- appearance of the periwound area.
- Read and interpret lab studies
- blood sugar
- prealbumin
- albumin
- complete blood count
- zinc level
- coagulation studies
- hemoglobin A1C
- transferrin
- indicate situations in which these tests and other adjunctive modalities should be recommended and/or addressed.
- Evaluate the patient’s current nutritional status
- intake pattern
- BMI
- physical constraints limiting the patient’s ability to receive nutrition
- inability to use utensils
- impaired or unable to swallow
- inability to chew solid food
- Considering wound type
- overall patient status
- cost
- identify the most appropriate type of dressing
- topical
- Wound treatment
- alginates
- antimicrobial
- collagen
- composites
- contact layers
- foams
- growth factors
- hydrocolloids
- hydrogels
- special absorptives
- transparent films
- wound fillers
- impregnated gauze
- silicon
- bioengineered tissues
- cadaver
- porcine
- autologous grafts
- Considering wound type
- overall patient status
- cost
- identify the most appropriate type of pressure redistribution strategy:
- mattresses
- low air loss
- air fluidized
- alternating air
- foam, gel
- powered
- non-powered
- reactive vs non reactive
- cushions
- air
- foam
- gel
- alternating (air))
- mattress overlays
- low air loss
- alternating air
- foam
- gel
- specialty beds
- bariatric
- air fluidized
- lateral rotation
- Considering wound type, overall patient status, and cost
- identify the most appropriate type of wound bed preparation
- selective debridement types
- autolysis
- enzymatic
- biosurgical
- nonselective debridement types
- mechanical
- sharp/surgical
- chemical
- bacterial balancing (cleansing))
- Considering wound type, overall patient status, and cost
- identify the most appropriate type of adjunctive therapy
- ultrasounds
- diathermy
- electrical stimulation
- monochromatic therapy
- magnet therapy
- negative pressure therapy
- radiant therapy
- acupuncture
- laser
- total contact casting
- edema management
- compression therapy
- support stockings
- bandages
- pumps
- massage
- hyperbaric
- topical growth factors
- surgical
- Considering wound type
- identify adjunctive modalities
- determine use
- length of use
- indications and contraindication of the modalities
- how the products/treatments can be used in conjunction with other treatments and modalities.
- Identify and differentiate between signs and symptoms of wound infection and different levels of wound contamination.
- Identify signs and symptoms of complications and differentiate among complications that can occur in a wound
- infection
- hemorrhage
- dehiscence
- evisceration
- fistula
- Identify and address educational needs of the patient, healthcare team members, and/or family/support network
- Identify and address critical elements of a discharge/transitional plan for patient and family.
- Identify appropriate billing strategies and supporting documentation to mitigate denials.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical aspects of wound care
- HIPAA
- informed consent
- advance directives
- IRB
- clinical trials
- research
- dissemination of findings
- patient’s preferences
- cultural
- religious
- personal beliefs
- Provide documentation throughout the process that complies with legal and institutional requirements and expectations for clear, concise, legible, and consistent documentation.