The voice of stoma care nurses: an exploration of stoma care in England.

BACKGROUND: This article is part two of a series presenting the findings of stakeholder surveys with ostomates and stoma care nurses (SCNs) for stoma services in England. Part one explored the experiences of ostomates. This article focuses on the views and experiences of 108 SCNs in England. AIM: To understand the experience of SCNs in England in relation to current services provided. This includes the scope of the SCN role, the service they provide, and SCN experience and views on areas for improvement. METHOD: SCNs were invited to share their experiences and views in a national online survey. Questions considered the experience of the nurse, where the care they provide is delivered, how their post is funded and their views on current issues such as responsibility for managing waste of stoma product. Two free-text questions asked what areas of stoma care services worked well and what areas could be improved, results of which were coded and thematically analysed. FINDINGS: Themes included patient care, industry involvement and prescribing process. CONCLUSION: Overall, survey respondents felt that they provided a good standard of care. Nurses reported complex industry relationships. Awareness of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code, Bribery Act 2010 and NHS England guidance on managing conflicts of interest is advocated, as is promoting transparency in funding arrangements. It was noted that there appears to be variation in the care provided to ostomates.

The voice of ostomates: an exploration of stoma care in England.

BACKGROUND: This article is part one of a series presenting the findings of stakeholder surveys with ostomates and stoma care nurses for stoma services in England. Due to the volume of data and publication limits this article focuses on the views and experiences of 2504 people living with a stoma (ostomates). AIM: To understand the experience of ostomates in relation to the current services provided in hospital and at home, the delivery of care and views on areas that work well and areas that require improvement. METHODS: Ostomates were asked to share their experiences in a national online survey, promoted via multiple organisations. The survey included sections for respondent demographics, interactions with the stoma care nurse (SCN), products and dispensing services, as well as patients' experiences relating to both hospital-based care and home-based care. Free-text responses relating to service delivery in hospital and at home were coded and thematically analysed. FINDINGS: Results are presented, and verbatim quotes used to demonstrate themes. These include care provision and access to visits from the SCN, physical and psychological care, information sharing, specialist knowledge and products. CONCLUSION: Overall, the survey respondents praised the care given, however, the experiences and views shared via the survey show significant variation in the care and services received. This article presents the findings of a survey of ostomates living in England. A second article, presenting the findings about the experiences of stoma care nurses will be published in a forthcoming issue.

Caring for people with arthritis and a stoma.

It is understood that 10 million people currently live with arthritis and that there are two main types: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (Arthritis Care, 2013). As the numbers of people with arthritis grows, and the population ages, it is likely that nurses may be presented with increasing numbers of people who require advice, not only when they have their stoma fashioned, but later in their life. The purpose of this article is to consider the impact of arthritis upon stoma care and make practical suggestions for stoma management. Sources of further help and information for people living with a stoma and arthritis have also been included. It is hoped that by reading this article the nurse will be more familiar with the impact that arthritis may have on a person with a stoma and how they can be assisted to manage as independently as possible.