COLOSTOMY/ILEOSTOMY CARE
I. Purpose: To provide means of fecal evacuation. To maintain the integrity of the stoma and
peristomal area. To prevent lesions, ulceration, excoriation, and other skin breakdown caused
by fecal contaminants. To promote general comfort and positive self-image.
II. Responsibility:
   A. Training: Training will be conducted by a licensed nurse.
   B. Performance:
          1. Direct care staff who have completed:
                   a. Baseline competency training checklist of DDS.
                   b. Procedure task specific training.
          2. Trained staff will follow individual procedural guidelines including notifying the
             licensed nurse as indicated.
   C. Monitoring:
          1. The licensed nurse.
          2. Trained staff performing the task under the clinical direction of a licensed nurse,
             will notify the nurse of issues and/or outcomes as directed by the nurse.
   D. Documentation:
          1. Individuals who perform the tasks will record all pertinent information as
             instructed by the licensed nurse.
          2. The licensed nurse will ensure agency compliance with required documentation.
III. Training to Include:
   A. Initial: overview of the procedure, its purpose. Demonstration of techniques by
      licensed nurse and return demonstration by the student.
   B. Documentation of Training and Monitoring:
           1. Training: Licensed nurse completes training record of staff on “DDS Nursing
               Delegation Procedure Performance Evaluation Form”.
           2. Monitoring: Licensed nurse completes DDS “Nursing Delegation Task
               Competency Monitoring Form”.
   C. Frequency of Monitoring and Task Performance:
           1. Staff will be monitored in their proficiency at this skill as determined by the
               licensed nurse but not to exceed 12 months.
IV. Related Knowledge:
    A. Background of the disease
    B. Medical history of the person
    C. Basic anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract
    D. Skin care
    E. Characteristics of ostomy drainage
                 PROCEDURE: APPLYING ADHESIVE STOMA PLATE AND/OR POUCH
Name:
Residence:
Date of Initial Order:                              Date Order Renewed:
                                               (in pencil)
Order:
I. Diagnosis:
II. Purpose of Procedure: Maintains integrity of stoma and peristomal skin, prevents lesions,
ulcerations, excoriation, and other skin breakdown caused by fecal contaminants, prevents
infection, promotes general comfort and positive self-image/self-concept, provides clean
ostomy pouch for fecal evacuation, reduces odor from overuse of old pouch.
___________________________________                               __________________
Signature of Delegating R.N.                                     Date of Delegation
III. Procedure
                         TASK                                     RATIONALE
A. Gather equipment:
       1. Gloves                                           To facilitate changing the face
       2. Protective pad                                    plate with the least amount of
       3. Basin of warm water                               distress and discomfort to the
       4. Soap                                              individual.
       5. Washcloth/towel or gauze
       6. Measuring guide
       7. New pouch appliance(s)
       8. Scissors
       9. Pen/pencil
       10. Peristomal skin paste and stoma
           plate (if needed)
       11. Waste receptacle
B. Preparation of Individual:
       1. Provide privacy.                                 Reduces embarrassment.
       2. Explain procedure to individual.                 Reduces anxiety, promotes a calm
                                                            approach and eliminates fear and
                                                     apprehension.
C. Perform Task:
       1. Wash hands and put on gloves.             Reduces microorganism transfer.
                                                     Avoids exposure to individual’s
                                                     body secretions.
      2. Place disposable protective pads           Removes old pouch for new pouch
          around stoma pouch close to                application; maintains clean
          stoma, remove old stoma plate              environment.
          and/or pouch, and discard
          contents; discard gloves.                 Reduces microorganism transfer.
      3. Perform hand hygiene and put on
          fresh gloves.                             Provides data.
      4. Inspect stoma and peristomal skin.         Removes stool soilage and
      5. Perform stoma care: Gently clean            promotes secure pouch
          entire stoma and peristomal skin           application.
          with gauze or washcloth soaked in
          warm, soapy water (if some fecal
          matter is difficult to remove, leave
          wet gauze or cloth on area for a
          few minutes before gently
          removing fecal matter); rinse and         Protects skin and linens during
          pat dry.                                   procedure.
      6. Place gauze pad over stoma
          opening to prevent spillage while         Provides for accurate fit of pouch.
          preparing adhesive stoma plate and
          pouch.
      7. Measure stoma with measuring               Cuts barrier to appropriate size for
          guide. Use measuring guide to trace        stoma; allows pouch to be placed
          opening on back of plate.                  over stoma without adhering to it.
      8. Leaving intact adhesive covering of
          plate, cut out circle, allowing an        Prevents skin irritation of
          extra 1/8 inch for placement over          uncovered peristomal skin.
          stoma.
      9. Remove gauze and apply stomal
          paste around stoma or apply
                                                    Adheres plate to skin; warmth of
          stomal paste to edges of opening in
                                                     skin and fingers enhances
          plate.
                                                     adhesiveness once plate makes
      10. Remove adhesive covering of plate,
                                                     contact with skin.
          and place plate on skin with hole
                                                    Secures pouch for collection of
          centered over stoma; hold in place
                                                     feces.
          for about 30 seconds.
       11. Center pouch over stoma and place
           on plate. If applying a two-piece
           appliance, snap pouch on the                Reduces microorganism transfer.
           flange of the plate.
       12. Remove gloves and perform hand
           hygiene.
D. Check Individual’s Status:
 1. Make sure the individual is comfortable           To maintain the individual’s mental
     and tolerated the procedure well.                 and physical well being.
E. Care of Equipment:
    1. Restore or discard all equipment               Provides clean environment.
        appropriately.
F. Documentation:
   1. Record date and time treatment                  Communication of information.
       completed.
   2. Record color, consistency, and amount
       of feces in pouch (small, medium,
       large).
   3. Record condition of stoma and
       peristomal skin.                               Reporting and communication of
   4. Record size of stoma.                            information.
   5. Record individual’s response.
   6. Report to nurse any problems that
       were encountered.
   7. Nurse notification as appropriate.
PLEASE NOTE: NO TASK IS CONSIDERED COMPLETED UNTIL THE DOCUMENTATION AND
REQUIRED REPORTING OCCURS. ANY CHANGE OR VARIATION FROM THE INDIVIDUAL’S
BASELINE SHOULD BE REPORTED PROMPTLY TO THE LICENSED NURSE.
     PROCEDURE: EVACUATING AND CLEANING A COLOSTOMY OR ILEOSTOMY POUCH
Name:
Residence:
Date of Initial Order:          Date Order Renewed:
                                               (in pencil)
Order:
I. Diagnosis:
II. Purpose of Procedure: Removes fecal material from ostomy pouch, cleans pouch for reuse,
maintains integrity of stoma and peristomal skin, promotes general comfort, promotes positive
self-concept.
___________________________________                                __________________
Signature of Delegating R.N.                                      Date of Delegation
III. Procedure
                         TASK                                      RATIONALE
A. Gather equipment:
   1. Gloves                                                To facilitate changing the colostomy
   2. Bedpan (if needed)                                     bag with the least amount of
   3. Protective pads                                        distress and discomfort to the
   4. Washcloths                                             individual.
   5. Toilet paper
   6. Closure device
   7. Waste receptacle
B. Preparation of Individual:
   1. Provide privacy.                                      Reduces embarrassment.
   2. Explain procedure to individual.                      Reduces anxiety, promotes a calm
                                                             approach and eliminates fear and
                                                             apprehension.
C. Perform Task:
    1. Put on gloves.                                       Avoids exposure to individual’s
                                                             body secretions.
   2. Place protective pad on abdomen                       Prevents seepage of feces onto
      around and below pouch.                                skin.
   3. If using toilet, seat client on toilet or in
      a chair facing toilet, with pouch over
      toilet; if using bedpan, place pouch         Positions individual so feces drain
      over bedpan.                                  into receptacle.
   4. Remove closure device on bottom of           Promotes efficiency; cuff keeps
      pouch and place within easy reach.            bottom of pouch clean, which helps
      (Fold bottom of pouch up to form a            to prevent odor and helps keep
      cuff before emptying.)                        hands clean during procedure.
                                                   Removes feces from pouch.
    5. Slowly unfold end of pouch and allow
        feces to drain into bedpan or toilet.      Expels additional feces from pouch.
    6. Press sides of lower end of pouch           Removes excess feces from lower
        together.                                   end of pouch.
    7. Open lower end of pouch and wipe            Reduces embarrassment and room
        out with toilet paper.                      odor.
    8. Flush toilet or empty bedpan.               Cleans exterior closure device.
    9. Wash closure device while in
        bathroom and dry with paper towel.
    10. Remove gloves, perform hand                Reduces microorganism transfer.
        hygiene, and reglove.
    11. Reclamp pouch with cleaned closure         Prevents leakage of feces.
        device.
                                                   Completes cleaning of pouch.
    12. Wipe outside of pouch with clean, wet
        washcloth; be sure to wipe around
                                                   Reduces microorganism transfer.
        closure device at bottom of pouch.
    13. Remove gloves and perform hand
        hygiene.
D. Check Individual’s Status:
    1. Make sure the individual is                 To maintain the individual’s mental
        comfortable and tolerated the               and physical well being.
        procedure well.
E. Care of Equipment:
   1. Restore or discard all equipment             Provides clean environment.
       appropriately.
F. Documentation:
   8. Record date and time treatment               Communication of information.
       completed.
   9. Record color, consistency, and amount
       of feces in pouch (small, medium,
       large).                                     Reporting and communication of
   10. Record individual’s response.                information.
   11. Report to nurse any problems that
       were encountered.
   12. Nurse notification as appropriate.
PLEASE NOTE: NO TASK IS CONSIDERED COMPLETED UNTIL THE DOCUMENTATION AND
REQUIRED REPORTING OCCURS. ANY CHANGE OR VARIATION FROM THE INDIVIDUAL’S
BASELINE SHOULD BE REPORTED PROMPTLY TO THE LICENSED NURSE.