A patient who had a colostomy placed 1 month ago is feeling depressed and does not want to participate in sexual activities anymore. The patient is afraid that the partner does not want sex. The patient is afraid the ostomy is physically unattractive. Which initial nursing intervention will be most effective in helping this patient resume sexual activity?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should first address the patient's need to be comfortable with his or her own body image; once the patient's issues related to body image are resolved, intimacy may follow. Reassuring the patient that others manage to have sexual intercourse with an ostomy may help to decrease anxiety but may have the unintended effect of making the patient feel abnormal because he or she has not yet resumed sexual activity. Support groups may be helpful for the patient, but this is not the most effective initial intervention a nurse can provide; this may be helpful later. The patient is worried about the ostomy; incorporating it into intimate activities is insensitive and can even be damaging to the stoma.

A Patient Who Had a Colostomy Placed 1 Month Ago