Implementing a standarized teaching method for Ostomy Patients

An ostomy is a life changing event for any patient.  Caring for someone that has undergone the creation of a stoma can be one of the most rewarding experiences an ostomy nurse may have.  The goal of the ostomy nurse is to provide the patient with the skills and knowledge they need to care for their ostomy.  In order for the ostomy nurse to achieve this goal they must be able to provide education on ostomy care to their patient.

It was established that in a large acute care trauma center patients were receiving various information about caring for their ostomy.  This was due to many ostomy nurses doing teaching to the new ostomy patient on different days.  There was no systematic approach to the teaching. This teaching practice allowed for information to be missed. An opportunity to improve our teaching and care we give our ostomy patient was identified.  

To improve our teaching we developed an ostomy education packet to be given to all new ostomy patients. The ostomy packet contains education material that will help the patient with the learning process of caring for their ostomy. Within this packet is a check list to help every ostomy nurse teaching this patient know what has been taught, what needs to be taught, and what needs to be reinforced.

The development of this ostomy education packet has allowed us to better obtain the goal of providing the patient with skills and knowledge they need so they can be self sufficient in caring for their ostomy.