Ostomy care can be intimidating for nurses who haven't received specialized training — but it doesn't have to be. Whether you're caring for a patient with a new ostomy or troubleshooting stoma complications, confidence and hands-on experience are essential. In their 2026 AMSN Convention pre-convention workshop, “Hands-On: Ostomy Care for Medical-Surgical Nurses,” Katherine Mehaffey, BSN, RN, CWOCN, and Patricia Anderson, BSN, RN, CWOCN, will help attendees gain practical skills that they can immediately put to use in their practice.
In this workshop preview, Mehaffey and Anderson discuss what participants can expect, why ostomy education remains a critical need for med-surg nurses, and why emerging topics like stoma irrigation should be top of mind.
Give our readers a preview of your pre-convention workshop, “Hands-On: Ostomy Care for Medical-Surgical Nurses.”
The workshop will consist of an initial PowerPoint presentation reviewing types of ostomies, types of pouches, pouch application, and commonly encountered skin/leaking issues, as well as online resources they can use later. Then there will be a hands-on component where participants will have the opportunity to prepare a pouch and apply it to an ostomy model. There will be ample time for questions and one-on-one encounters.
Why is this topic especially important for medical-surgical nurses?
In general, it appears that there is very little ostomy education provided in nursing schools. Medical-surgical nurses may encounter ostomies with little experience and knowledge management and may not have access to a certified/experienced ostomy nurse in their facility.
Talk us through some evidence-based information on doing enemas through an ostomy.
Stoma irrigation is a really hot topic right now; there was a great presentation recently at the National WOCNext conference. It can be used to treat stoma complications after surgery or as a routine procedure by an ostomate at home. Staff (nursing or medical) ideally should be trained in the different techniques, appropriate equipment used, type of ostomy, stoma orientation, indication for use, and knowledge/treatment of potential complications.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about your workshop and why they should attend?
It will be fun and hands on! The initial PowerPoint will have lots of great photos, and we hope that the informal atmosphere will enhance the experience for the participants.
Content published on the Medical-Surgical Monitor represents the views, thoughts, and opinions of the authors and may not necessarily reflect the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses.