Self-care and patient empowerment in stoma management

Research has shown that the early promotion of stoma management skills can signifcantly enhance the psychological adjustment of stoma patients post-surgery (O’ Connor, 2005). However, experiential evidence has shown that this does not always occur due to staff shortages and increased workloads. In this article, Antonella Di Gesaro aims to highlight the importance of teaching stoma patients to self-care. The author’s experiences on teaching stoma management skills will be deliberated and the effects this has on the enhanced recovery programme (ERP). Improving nurse documentation in order to enhance continuity of care will be discussed and the potential legal issues this could involve. Finally, the importance of effective communication, teamwork and effective practical teaching to empower patients to self-care will be reinforced.