Ostomy surgery is a life-changing event. It is the job and function of the healthcare professional caring for the post-ostomy patient to provide care for the stoma. However, the healthcare professional should also understand that he/she plays a pivotal role in helping the patient with overwhelming emotions that often go along with ostomy.

This course reviews the digestive system in brief and a few of the most frequently performed ostomies, the main medical conditions that may lead to an ostomy, post-operative and daily care for different ostomies. It also focuses on helping the patient prepare for discharge and life post-ostomy.

The purpose of this program is to provide nurses and others an understanding of the importance of providing patients with appropriate care of stoma following ostomy procedures and addressing both physical and emotional issues involved in living with a stoma in order to assist the patient's continuing care.

After watching this program viewers should be able to: