title: Hospital to home: smoothing the journey for the new ostomist.
abstract: For most patients, being discharged from hospital is an important milestone in their recovery. Having come through surgery, they have completed their early recovery, are well enough to leave the safe confines of the hospital and have reached the natural end point of what should be a well coordinated episode of care with a satisfactory outcome, where the discharge is as important as the admission. However, although most are naturally pleased to be going home, patients will have many fears and anxieties about how they are actually going to manage. This includes not only coping with their recovery, but also managing their lives, returning to their usual activities and lifestyle and coping with their new stoma. Knowledge information and support, nursing interventions and experiences in hospital are valuable and will be put to good use at home. This article identifies the key issues that may arise during this time, the level of knowledge and skill required for a successful transition home and the support required by the patient to adapt to their changed circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, West Yorkshire.
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Readding
mesh_terms: D003125:Colostomy / Q000451:nursing*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000451:nursing*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*