Staff nurse confi dence in their skills and knowledge and barriers to caring for patients with ostomies

PURPOSE: P atients with ostomies often state that staff nurses display a lack of confi dence in knowledge and skills related to ostomy care. This study examined the confi dence and perceptions of barriers among hospital staff nurses when caring for ostomy patients. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: A convenience sample of 576 staff nurses, including 510 registered, 61 licensed practical, and 5 unspecifi ed nurses, participated in the study. The study sample practiced at 3 sites: an academic medical center, a Veteran's Administration Center, and a not-forprofi t hospital in the state of New York. METHODS: Links to a 17-question electronic survey were distributed by e-mail. The survey included items that queried demographics, availability of an ostomy nurse, ostomy training in school, and frequency of care of ostomy patients. Participants also responded to 22 statements using a 6-point Likert Scale (1 = Strongly Disagree, 6 = Strongly Agree). These statements queried confi dence in providing ostomy care and perceived barriers. RESULTS: Higher confi dence in ostomy care knowledge (k) and skills (s) was associated with being an LPN (P <.0001 [k], P =.003 [s]), years of nursing experience (P =.009 [k], P =.01 [s]), having ostomy training (P =.002 [k], P =.02 [s]), frequency of providing ostomy care (P <.0001 for each), and knowing how to obtain and use ostomy supplies (P <.0001 for each). The highest reported confi dence was associated with emptying a pouch (mean ± SD, 5.32 ± 0.91), and the lowest was knowledge of nutrition for persons with ostomies (3.96 ± 1.21). Almost 1 in 5 respondents (18.6%) was unaware that a certifi ed ostomy nurse practiced at their institution. CONCLUSION: Confi dence of staff nurses in delivering ostomy care was higher with training and experience. Opportunities for continuing education may increase staff nurse confi dence in providing ostomy care. The greatest barrier was lack of knowledge about the presence of an ostomy nurse as a resource in caring for patients.