According to recent statistics, the Houston area is struggling with an ongoing nursing shortage of 4,000 to 5,000 full-time RNs, meaning that nursing jobs need to be filled quickly. On top of this, the Texas Board of Nursing reports that nearly 3,000 hospital beds are in the process of being added to the Houston market, so demand for nurses will be even greater soon, especially those with experience. Houston is home of the famous Texas Medical Center, and its largest hospital is The Methodist Hospital.
Wound, ostomy and continence nurses care for patients that have wounds (including ulcers and those caused by injury), ostemies (artificial openings that allow for alternate disposal of bodily wastes) and/or incontinence. The major professional organization is the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN). Certification is maintained by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB), and their CWOCN, COCN, CWCN and CCCN credentials are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts excellent, overall job growth for registered nurses. The median registered nurse salary is $62,450.