A nurse is reinforcing teaching with another nurse about how to change an ostomy appliance for a client who has a sigmoid colostomy.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
Create an opening on the skin barrier that is 1.27 cm (0.5 in) larger than the client's stoma
Use a moisturizing soap to clean the skin around the client's stoma
Empty the client's ostomy pouch before removing the skin barrier
Change the client's ostomy appliance 1 hr after breakfast
Correct Answer : C
A. Create an opening on the skin barrier that is 1.27 cm (0.5 in) larger than the client's stoma. The opening on the skin barrier should be cut to fit closely around the stoma, approximately 0.3-0.6 cm (1/8 to 1/4 inch) larger than the stoma size. A larger opening (like 0.5 inches) could expose too much surrounding skin, increasing the risk of skin irritation from contact with the stoma's effluent.
B. Use a moisturizing soap to clean the skin around the client's stoma. Moisturizing soaps should be avoided because they can leave a residue on the skin, which may interfere with the adhesion of the ostomy appliance. The skin around the stoma should be cleaned with mild soap and water, or water alone, and then dried thoroughly before applying the new appliance.
C. Empty the client's ostomy pouch before removing the skin barrier. Emptying the ostomy pouch before removing the skin barrier is a practical step to reduce spillage of stool during the appliance change, making the process cleaner and easier to manage. It also minimizes the risk of contamination of the surrounding area or wound.
D. Change the client's ostomy appliance 1 hour after breakfast. Ostomy appliances are best changed when the bowel is least active, which is usually before a meal or several hours after eating. Changing the appliance shortly after a meal, such as 1 hour after breakfast, may result in more stoma output, making it harder to manage the appliance change.
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Explanation
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Explanation
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