Abstract
Introduction: Wound, ostomy, and continence nurse specialists (WOCN) make a documented contribution to the management of complex wounds and stomas, with measurable effects on complication rates and patients' quality of care. This clinical contribution is not consistently matched by social and institutional recognition of the role. Persistent limitations in recognition have been associated with professional identity and career development. The study aimed to interpret the lived experiences of WOCN specialists regarding social recognition across their professional careers, using the dimensions of love, rights and solidarity described by Honneth as a theoretical interpretive lens. Methodology: A qualitative study using a Heideggerian interpretive phenomenological approach was conducted. Fifteen WOCN specialists from five Colombian cities were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. In-depth interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis followed Diekelmann's seven-stage hermeneutic method, with both authors coding all transcripts independently. Honneth's theory of social recognition was used as a theoretical interpretive lens. Results: Three main themes and nine subthemes were identified: (1) Vocational fulfillment: personal satisfaction and empathic sensitivity; (2) legitimacy and autonomy: clinical empowerment, job insecurity and pay inequity; and (3) social value of the role: continuous training, leadership, pedagogical role and market-based valuation of expertise. Conclusions: The study evidences a paradox in the social recognition of WOCN. Although participants experienced vocational satisfaction and clinical empowerment that challenge traditional nursing hierarchies, they reported job insecurity and wage inequity that did not correspond to their level of expertise. The findings suggest that health policy could give further consideration to formal recognition of specialist roles and to equitable employment conditions