title: Teaching the stoma care routine to a patient with low vision.
abstract: Teaching the patient with a newly formed stoma but who also has low vision to manage his/her stoma independently can be a difficult task. This case study shows how a nurse taught a patient with low vision to become independent in relation to his newly formed stoma, with a view to being discharged home successfully. At the time the stoma care nurse used her past experience and common sense in achieving this aim. After the event the stoma care nurse researched the literature and discovered that there are accessories/devices available to assist patients with low vision to manage their stoma and help improve their vision. On reflection, the stoma care nurse felt she did not have sufficient time preoperatively with the patient, which prevented her from being able to change the course of action. She has now improved her knowledge, which will assist her in the future if she has to care for another patient with low vision who has had a newly formed stoma.
authors.affiliation: Royal Glamorgan Hospital, South Wales.
authors.forename: Helen Claire
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Benjamin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000150:complications