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Continuing education activities enhance autonomy, patient care

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, January 30, 2007

To enhance nurse autonomy and improve patient care, Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City, OK, introduced continuing education activities for bedside nurses. Enterostomal therapy nurses conducted a one hour class for all nurses on ostomy care to reinforce proper care of patients with urinary or fecal diversions. The class reviewed types of ostomies, stoma and peristomal skin assessments, odor control, diet, pouching of diversion, and proper emptying techniques.

The classes were taught by Nancy Dobbs, RN, CWOCN, enterstomal therapist and Andrea Carano, RN, RNC, staff nurse. The objective of the exercise was to familiarize nurses with current indications for ostomy surgery and issues regarding pouching and obtaining supplies. Each participant demonstrated the ability to pouch a stoma using a kit prepared prior to the class.

Mercy Health nurses reported the demonstration experience reinforced their ostomy care skills, and the classes will continue for nurses who are hired at the facility. The goal is to have all nurses comfortable with ostomy care and for them to be proactive in teaching ostomy patients within the hospital. "These classes have already had an impact on our patients. If our bedside nurses are comfortable with ostomy care, it helps the patient with acceptance of this change in body image," says Carano.

Source: Kay Lee Allen, BS, RN, project coordinator at Mercy Health Center.

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