Over 100,000 ostomy surgeries are performed in the United States each year, and this number continues to grow. Research has shown that 70% of patients experience postoperative complications, resulting in increased length of stay and higher readmission rates. Ostomates face multiple challenges post-surgery related to leakage, prolapse, herniation, retractions, and necrosis, which can lead to an emergency department (ED) visit. In this episode of WOCTalk, we speak with Cathy Wittenauer, BSN, RN, CWOCN regarding her co-authored poster, “Pouching Made Easy: Creating an Essential Ostomy Tote for Emergency Room Nurses”. During our discussion, Cathy walks through a collaboration established to bridge the gap in providing competent postoperative ostomy care and additional knowledge to ED nurses to create positive experiences for ostomates during emergency department visits.

To view a description of the poster, “Pouching Made Easy: Creating an Essential Ostomy Tote for Emergency Room Nurses”, click here.

The authors of this poster were Karaleigh Crouse, BSN, RN, CWOCN and Cathy Wittenauer, BSN, RN, CWOCN.