CE: Nursing Care for Patients After Ostomy Surgery

Abstract

When patients who undergo ostomy surgery do not have access to an ostomy care nurse, staff nurses must assume responsibility for providing ostomy care and educational support. However, many staff nurses may lack the necessary knowledge and skills to provide this type of care. This article details the basics of pre- and postoperative care and patient education for nurses who encounter patients with two of the most common types of ostomy surgery of the bowel: colostomy and ileostomy. It covers the care of a new stoma and provides information about emptying and changing the pouch, nutritional and lifestyle considerations, and possible complications.

Nursing Care for Patients After Urostomy Surgery

“…In general, before discharge, patients should be taught how to empty the pouch, how to connect it to a nighttime drainage bag, and how to change it. Nurses can also take advantage of patient teaching materials available from the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) and from ostomy supply manufacturers (see Table 17). In addition, manufacturers provide a “starter service” that includes an ostomy kit and postdischarge telephone counseling for patients with ostomy care nurses and other ostomy specialists (see Table 27).…”

“…Nurses can also take advantage of patient teaching materials available from the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) and from ostomy supply manufacturers (see Table 17). In addition, manufacturers provide a “starter service” that includes an ostomy kit and postdischarge telephone counseling for patients with ostomy care nurses and other ostomy specialists (see Table 27). Patient education is an essential part of enhancing patients' self-care abilities to cope and manage the stoma.…”

“…aSee dropdown language menu for Spanish educational materials.bSee dropdown language menu for multilingual educational materials.Adapted from Cross HH 7…”

“…This article details pre- and postoperative interventions for nurses who encounter patients undergoing a urostomy in order to eliminate gaps in care, increase nurses' and patients' competence and confidence, and optimize outcomes and quality of life. It is a follow-up to a previous article in AJN by one of us (HHC) on nursing care for patients undergoing ostomy surgery of the bowel 7…”

“…The ureters are disconnected from the bladder and implanted into a proximal portion of the conduit, up to a previous article in AJN by one of us (HHC) on nursing care for patients undergoing ostomy surgery of the bowel. 7…”