Are you considering becoming a Wound Care Nurse, or have you already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how much a Wound Care Nurse makes, top companies for wound care nurses, the highest paying cities, and everything you need to succeed in the career.
Table of contents
What Does A Wound Care Nurse Do?
Wound care nurses employ a variety of techniques to assess, treat, and care for patients with wounds. This includes wound debridement, cleaning, bandaging, and working with the doctor and care team to decide if other treatments like surgery or antibiotics are necessary.
They often work with patients who have ostomies, diabetes, or pressure ulcers. WOC nurses also educate patients and their caretakers on how to care for wounds at home and prevent infection and further injury.
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Wound Care Nurse Salary: How Much Does A Wound Care Nurse Make?
The median annual salary for all R.N.s is $77,600 per year, or $37.31 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of June 2022, though conditions differ by area.
Nevertheless, many employers offer a salary differential for this role because certified wound care is considered a specialty. According to Indeed.com, the national reported average salary for wound care nurses (which doesn’t specify certification) is $99,503 as of June 2022, though conditions vary based on area. Currently, Kansas pays 38% less than the national average.
Average Annual Salary Of Wound Care Nurses
The average salary for a wound care nurse is $99,361 per year in the United States and $9,969 overtime per year.
According to Talent, the average wound care nurse salary in the USA is $78,635 per year or $40.33 per hour.
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How Much Does Entry Level Wound Care Nurses Make?
Entry-level positions start at $56,484 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $118,218 per year.
Highest Paying Cities For Wound Care Nurses
Here’s an outline of the highest-paying cities for wound care nurses, as stated by Indeed.
| City | Salary |
| Chicago, IL | $107,903 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $104,969 |
| Dallas, TX | $103,632 |
| Houston, TX | $101,465 |
| Memphis, TN | $96,814 |
| San Antonio, TX | $96,682 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $95,449 |
| Meza, AZ | $92,665 |
| El Paso, TX | $88,568 |
Top Companies For Wound Care Nurses in the United States
| Company | Salary |
| Vohra Wound Physicians | $300,000 |
| General Healthcare Resources, Inc. | $207,143 |
| AmeriWound | $205,164 |
| Woundtech | $160,204 |
| Cross Country Nurses | $159,407 |
Where Do Wound Care Nurses Work?
Wound care nurses typically work in hospitals in the following units:
- Operating Room (OR)
- Critical Care
- ICU
- In inpatient settings where patients are bedridden
They may also work for home healthcare agencies, nursing homes, hospices, or public health agencies. There is a growing need for WOC nurses in long-term care settings to help with complications from diabetes in particular.
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How To Become A Wound Care Nurse
Here are the steps usually needed to become a wound care nurse:
- Pursue education: Most wound care nurses are registered nurses with a bachelor of science in nursing or higher.
- Pass the NCLX-RN: To become a nurse, you must pass the NCLX-RN exam to become licensed and work in the medical field.
- Gain practical experience: Most wound care nurses gain experience treating wounds in nursing areas such as oncology, medicine, surgery, or critical care before they apply to WOC positions.
- Complete any additional training: Nurses who decide to specialize in ostomies, foot care or other specialized areas of wound care may need to complete additional training.
- Become certified: Requirements vary, but aspiring wound care nurses need to complete a certain number of clinical hours before they can complete a WOC Nursing Board exam to become certified.
FAQs On Wound Care Nurses
Wound care nurses work in different units in a hospital, including the ICU, OR, critical care, and hospital wards where patients are bedridden. They may work for other healthcare agencies, such as home healthcare, hospice, and nursing homes.
Hours and types of shifts that a wound care nurse works will depend on their workplace. A wound care nurse in a clinic will typically work standard business hours, such as Monday – Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, whereas a wound care nurse in a hospital setting might work a few 12-hour shifts per week.
There are four certifications offered through the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Certification board:
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence
Wound Treatment Associate
Advanced Practice
Foot Care
Wound care nurses should be critical thinkers to approach each patient’s treatment as a unique case. They should possess excellent communication skills to explain how to care for wounds and communicate with patience and compassion.
The lowest salary for a Wound Care Nurse in the United States is $45,002 annually.
Conclusion
To succeed as a wound care nurse, there is every need to obtain certifications. Gaining certifications show credibility and also increases your earning potential. Most wound care certification programs take approximately 2-3 months to complete; then, you’ll need to take and pass the certification exam in your chosen specialty.
References
- indeed.com – Wound Care Nurse salary in the United States
- registerednursing.org – Wound Care Nurse
- talent.com – Wound Care Nurse average salary in USA 2023
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