Ostomy Care: Techniques and Best Practices

Course Overview
This course provides a comprehensive examination of the essential principles and best practices of ostomy care, equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to support patients with colostomies, ileostomies, and urostomies across the continuum of care. Learners will explore evidence-based practices for pre- and post-operative management, stoma assessment, skin care, pouching system selection, patient education, and complication prevention. The course emphasizes patient-centered care, including psychological support, lifestyle adaptations, and strategies to foster independence and confidence in self-care. Learners will gain practical competencies to improve patient outcomes and enhance quality of life for individuals living with an ostomy. 

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Recall the normal anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal and urinary systems, including key organs involved in ostomy formation.
• Describe the indications for various types of ostomies.
• Demonstrate correct assessment of stoma appearance and peristomal skin integrity using evidence-based criteria.
• Integrate psychosocial and cultural considerations into patient and family education to support adaptation to life with an ostomy.
• Discuss individualized patient teaching plans that promote self-care and long-term ostomy management, incorporating health literacy principles.
• Select appropriate pouching systems and accessories based on patient-specific needs and stoma characteristics.
• Identify and manage common stoma complications following current clinical guidelines.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions through outcome measures such as patient satisfaction and reduced complication rates.

About the Author/Presenter 
Abbie Schmitt, MSN-Ed, RN, is a nurse educator with nursing experience in internal medicine, inpatient rehab, cardiology, emergency medicine, humanitarian relief, and ADN nursing programs. She graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) in 2007, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2012, and a Master’s degree in Nursing, Nursing Education (MSN-Ed) from Liberty University in 2019. 

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Nursing

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