Berti-Hearn Linda, Elliott Brenda
Linda Berti-Hearn, MSN, RN, CWOCN, is a Wound Ostomy Nurse, Virtua Health-Home Health Division, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. Brenda Elliott, PhD, RN, CNE, is an Assistant Professor, Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
Home Healthc Now. 2019 Mar/Apr;37(2):68-78. doi: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000000735.
Surgical creation of a colostomy can have significant physical, emotional, and social effects. Adapting to a new ostomy can be overwhelming and interventions aimed at decreasing barriers to self-care should be a priority for home care patients. Advances in surgical procedures, coupled with decreased length of hospital stays, require home care clinicians to have the skills and knowledge to care for this population through postoperative recovery and the initial phases of learning self-care. This article will focus on the care of patients with a colostomy in the home care setting.
