Overview of stoma care for community nurses

Abstract

This article explores nursing care for stoma patients, with a focus on colostomies, while providing some broader information covering a multitude of topics that relate to any type of stoma. Nurses must be aware of various factors when caring for stoma patients, as the latter will not always be in touch with their specialist stoma nurse. Therefore, if a community nurse visits more often, they can make a difference with their knowledge and care. Complications are not uncommon, and it is important the correct advice is given on diet, exercise, avoiding complications such as parastomal hernia through certain techniques, medications and aids and appliances. SecuriCare and the Royal College of Nursing have produced clinical nursing standards for the stoma nurse, and these are also relevant to community nurses. A pharmacist can give more specialist advice on medications, a GP can prescribe for infections, and a stoma nurse can provide specialist expertise to the nurse and patient alike, but the community nurse is at the frontline with a community patient. Therefore, they should be equipped with the knowledge and care expertise, so they can know when to act by referral to the appropriate professional, or give the appropriate care and advice. The patient will also have psychological needs to consider, which may require referral if these are beyond the specialist stoma nurse's or community nurse's abilities.