The role of the pouch nurse in a tertiary centre

Abstract

Pouch care is a multidimensional branch of specialist nursing, which aims to support patients undergoing a series of stoma and pouch-forming surgeries throughout their entire peri-operative journey, from before the surgery to after discharge. Pouch nurse practitioners are highly-trained specialist nurses with specific skills, providing evidence-based practice, with ongoing research, service development, audit and education forming a part of their role, to ensure that patient care is delivered to the highest standard. The clinical expertise of pouch nurse practitioners is essential, as they must work autonomously, have first-hand knowledge of patients' needs and be able to assist them in timely manner. Defining the role of the pouch nurse practitioner contributes to raising the profile of the profession, raising awareness, and combating misinformation, all while empowering other nurses to consider pouch care as part of their career progression.