The home health nurse pouches an enterostomy for a patient with serious financial constraints.What should the nurse recommend to the patient about his ostomy care?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A pouch is expected to last 3 to 7 days and does not need to be changed more frequently.Allowing the pouch to remain in place as long as possible saves on the cost of supplies.The nurse helps the patient find community resources for assistance in procuring needed supplies.The nurse avoids using soap for peristomal cleansing because it can leave a residue on the skin,which can impair the protective properties of the skin barrier,leading to skin breakdown.Punching holes in the pouch should be avoided because it allows intestinal gas to drift out of the pouch.The patient is likely to notice the odor and change the pouch to reduce it,incurring unnecessary expense with extra pouch changes.A firm,round abdomen requires a softer,more flexible pouch system to secure the skin barrier.

The Home Health Nurse Pouches an Enterostomy for a Patient