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SKIN CARE TODAY
2017,Vol 3, No 1
patients became more accustomed
to their new body image. Despite
this, Ito et al (2012) noted that there
may be a dip in this recovery at about
two months, possibly because at that
point people are physically recovered
from their surgical procedure but are
still adapting to life with a stoma.
Practical tips
As the healthcare professional
most likely to visit patients in their
recovery period, the community
nurse is the person best-placed to
discuss any stoma-related problems.
In the author’s experience, practical
tips that nurses can provide to stoma
patients include:
i
Physical exercise: it is generally
safe to increase exercise
gradually and when the patient
feels strong enough
i
Social life: nurses should seek
to resolve any issues that might
affect people’s confidence in
socialising or resuming their
normal life, such as ensuring
that the stoma appliance does
not leak and is securely adhered
to the abdominal wall. Patients
should be encouraged to make
contact with friends and family, or
resources such as stoma support
groups or spiritual groups (Li
et al, 2012). This will help with
rehabilitation and adaptation
i
Sexual relations: nurses should
offer patients the chance to
discuss sexual relations — it is
generally possible for people
to have intercourse if there is
no damage to the nerves in the
genital area, but the surgeon
should have discussed the
risks with the patient before
the operation. However, in the
author’s experience, practical
advice around sexual relations
includes ensuring that the stoma
FOCUS ON STOMA CARE
i
appliance is emptied before
intercourse and the availability of
underwear that can disguise or
support a stoma appliance.
CONCLUSION
This article has shown that the
community nurse can assist the
patient with a stoma in a number of
ways. As well as helping the patient
cope emotionally with their new body
image, the provision of appropriate
support and advice will help patients
deal with the practicalities of having
a stoma, such as preventing the
appliance from leaking and protecting
the peristomal skin from damage.
Of course, nurses are not
expected to be experts in every
facet of stoma care and it may be
that referral to the stoma specialist
nurse for further advice on skin
care or the GP for counselling
may be appropriate. However, by
following the advice in this article,
the community nurse will be better
placed to provide advice and support
to the patient with a stoma.
JCN
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Top tip:
Nurses should seek to resolve
any issues that might affect
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or resuming their normal
life, such as ensuring that the
stoma appliance does not leak
and is securely adhered to the
abdominal wall.