Ostomy nurses are the most qualified people who can help people with ostomies in the best possible way. Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for a nurse to skip on getting some basic knowledge about ostomy care. These professionals have a good understanding of basic anatomy and physiology, so it’s not hard for them to learn these basic but crucial skills in the shortest possible time.
Supporting the ostomy patient’s transition
Patients, after ostomy surgery, may feel overwhelmed. A little appreciation and support could be all they need to kick start their rehabilitation process. Ostomy surgery results in the loss of the bladder or lower part of the bowel. It can trigger frustration in those patients. In those situations, they might not be able to think of any positives related to an ostomy. That’s where the role of an ostomy nurse becomes more crucial.
It is a critical job of an ostomy care nurse to support their patients during grieving times after surgery. The negative thoughts about an ostomy are largely a product of misconceptions. Ostomy nurses, with the help of accurate knowledge, can help patients to get rid of or prevent those misconceptions. For instance, a patient with a colostomy will be too concerned about the odor. Nurses can help those patients know about the colostomy bags that prevent the leakage of odor.
Teaching patients how to change an ostomy bag
As a nurse, your job will be to teach your patients the basic ostomy management, which typically involves emptying an ostomy pouch and changing a pouch. In the first sitting, they might feel that they are never going to be able to change a pouch, but the confidence grows with each sitting.
The first step is to teach patients to gather supplies they need to manage their ostomy. Supplies required, apart from ostomy bags and skin barriers, include a measuring guide, moistened paper towels, washcloths, and something to dry the skin around the stoma.
With all supplies set aside in sorted order, you need to teach patients the way to remove the skin barrier gently without damaging the peristomal skin. An adhesive remover may be required if the skin is too sensitive or the adhesive is too strong. Put the bag in a small trash bag for disposal.
Teach patients the way to clean their stomas during every pouch change. The best way is to clean it while showering. Plain tap water should be enough for cleansing, but if patients insist on using soap, instruct them to avoid using ones that contain perfumes and oils because they can leave a residue, which can compromise the peristomal skin’s ability to form a seal with the skin barrier.
Patients need to change their pouches every 3-7 days, depending on patient preferences, the type of stoma, waste’s consistency, the climate of the area, and the type of pouch being used.
The job of ostomy nurses doesn’t end with the initial recovery phase – they have to be available round the clock to the patients who have left for their houses from hospitals. That’s why nurses must have complete knowledge of the problems that patients may come up with related to ostomy management.
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