Uncertainty and the role of the credible authority during an ostomy experience.

The associated stress of an ostomy experience can threaten a patient's security and sense of control. One major stressor is the influence of uncertainty, when patients lack a clear perception of what will happen and are unable to define meaning or personally interpret information bombarding them from the complex health care system. Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Theory offers the ET nurse a practical framework for understanding how the patient attaches meaning to illness cues and how the ET nurse can positively affect the desired adaptation process. Because the patient trusts the ET nurse's expertise and experience, the nurse can help the patient to understand the ostomy experience and perceive its structure. As a credible authority, the ET nurse has the expert power to facilitate patient coping and adaptation by minimizing ambiguity through individualized education, counseling, and support while simultaneously constructing a sense of order and predictability for both patient and family.