CCCN Exam Preparation

CCCN Preparation and Resources

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB®) offers a list of suggested references to help in the preparation of the Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN®) exam. These resources focus on the core concepts of continence care practice, that includes, but are not limited to assessment, planning, intervention, treatment, and education and referral.

This is where BoardCerts comes in, BoardCerts CCCN practice questions are aligned with the official exam blueprint and the suggested references. The questions and detailed explanations are designed to reinforce key concepts for continence care, support clinical reasoning, and allow candidates to self-evaluate their readiness for the exam.

Key Concepts on CCCN Exam

Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution

CCCN Blueprint and Focus Areas

Area of FocusSubtopicsPercent of Exam

Assessment

  • Principles of continence (e.g., normal micturition and defecation)
  • Principles of patient-centered care (e.g., psychosocial, health literacy, cultural beliefs, informed consent)
  • Etiologies and contributing factors (e.g., diet, fluid intake, obstruction, functional impairment, neurological factors, retention, muscle damage, urethral hypermobility, bladder irritants, infection)
  • Pediatric voiding and bowel dysfunction (e.g., enuresis, encopresis, congenital anomalies)
  • Available resources (e.g., support and advocacy, supply access, post-acute care)
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of the current treatment plan (e.g., medication, voiding/bowel diaries, nutrition and fluid, surgical interventions, catheters/devices)
  • Interpreting lab values and diagnostic test results (e.g., urodynamics, postvoid residual, anorectal manometry and defecography)
  • Psychosocial factors affecting care (e.g., patient and caregiver ability to learn and perform care, economic implications, education, coping mechanisms)
  • Special considerations (e.g., population, cultural beliefs, changes in body image, intimacy)
  • Interpreting pain/coping using verbal and nonverbal tools
  • Types of voiding dysfunction (e.g., stress, urge, reversible, mixed, reflex, functional, nocturnal enuresis)
  • Types of bowel dysfunction (e.g., constipation, diarrhea, fecal impaction and incontinence, motility disorders)
  • Behavioral strategies (e.g., biofeedback, bladder/bowel training, pelvic floor muscle exercise)
  • Reversible causes of incontinence (e.g., delirium, infection, stool impaction)
  • Causes of voiding and bowel dysfunction (e.g., motility disorders, trauma, malignancy)
  • Assessment tools (e.g., Bristol stool chart, Urinary incontinence severity index, Timed up and Go)
  • Conducting physical assessments (e.g., digital exam, sensory awareness, pelvic exam, skin health)
  • Identifying continence complications (e.g., fungal skin infection, UTI, IAD, ITD)

24.58%

Intervention

  • Address reversible causes of urinary and bowel dysfunction
  • Recommend medications (e.g., anti-spasmodic, anti-cholinergic, anti-diarrheal, laxatives)
  • Behavioral strategies (e.g., diet and fluid modification, bladder/bowel training, pelvic floor muscle exercise, timed voiding/scheduled toileting, double-voiding, 'Knack', exercise)
  • Initiating voiding and bowel diaries
  • Skin health and protection (e.g., skin barriers, cleansers)
  • Pediatric voiding and bowel dysfunction management (e.g., environmental and behavioral)

17.53%

Treatment

  • Protecting skin health (e.g., skin barriers, cleansers)
  • Manage urinary retention (e.g., intermittent catheterization, prevention of infection)
  • Manage containment modalities (e.g., absorbent pads, urethral inserts, fecal diversion systems)
  • Catheter/device management (e.g., external, indwelling, straight/CIC, pessary)
  • Treating incontinence complications (e.g., fungal skin infection, MASD)
  • Treating bowel dysfunction (e.g., medications, digital stimulation, exercise, bowel training, diet)

20.49%

Care Planning

  • Principles of patient-centered care (e.g., psychosocial, health literacy, access to care and supplies, cultural beliefs, coping mechanisms)
  • Special considerations (e.g., populations, disabilities, changes in body image, intimacy)
  • Identifying and supporting patient and caregiver goals (e.g., self-care, activity)
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of the current treatment plan
  • Interpreting patient responses to interventions
  • Modifying interventions based on revised patient needs and goals

14.08%

Education and Referral

  • Etiologies and contributing factors (e.g., diet, fluid intake, obstruction, functional impairment, neurological factors, retention, muscle damage, urethral hypermobility, bladder irritants, infection)
  • Modifiable risk factors (e.g., tobacco cessation, exercise, safety awareness, diet)
  • Healthy bladder/bowel habits (e.g., bowel and bladder training, skin care, preventing UTI)
  • Maintaining voiding/bowel diaries
  • Skin health and protection (e.g., skin barriers, cleansers)
  • Behavioral strategies (e.g., bladder/bowel training, pelvic floor muscle exercise)
  • Management techniques (e.g., continence devices, fluid management, digital stimulation, medication)
  • Manage containment modalities (e.g., absorbent pads, urethral inserts)
  • Catheter/device management (e.g., external, indwelling, straight/CIC, pessary, fecal diversion systems)
  • Incontinence complications (e.g., fungal skin infection, MASD, urinary tract infection)
  • Special considerations (e.g., populations, disabilities, cognition, changes in body image, intimacy, cultural beliefs, psychosocial factors)
  • Available resources (e.g., support groups and advocacy, supply access, post-acute care)
  • Referrals for diagnostic testing (e.g., urodynamics, anorectal manometry and defecography)
  • Referrals for other services (e.g., rehabilitation/biofeedback/pelvic floor, nutrition, social services, mental health)
  • Facilitate appropriate consultations (e.g., surgery, GI/GU, oncology, gynecology)
  • Provide handoff communication across care settings

23.33%

CCCN Resources

  • WOCN Core Curriculum: Continence Management, J.Ermer-Seltun, S. Engberg, 2021, Wolters Kluwer (LWW).
  • WOCN Core Curriculum: Ostomy Management, J.Carmel, J. Colwell, M.Goldberg, 2021, Wolters Kluwer (LWW).
  • WOCN Core Curriculum: Wound Management, L. McNichol , C. Ratliff , S. Yates , 2021, Wolters Kluwer (LWW).

BoardCerts CCCN Question Bank

The BoardCerts CCCN question bank is meticulously designed to align with the official exam blueprint, ensuring you focus on the most relevant material for success.

7 day trial with 100% money back guarantee
Our 7-day free trial offers a 100% money-back guarantee for any reason
badge