title: Essential care for patients with stomas.
abstract: As nurses in any clinical setting may see patients with a stoma, it is vital they develop a basic understanding of stoma care. This article outlines the three main types of stoma, the specific appliances used for each type, examples of operations that might lead to stoma formation and the reasons for forming them.
authors.affiliation: St Mark's Hospital, Harrow.
authors.forename: Jennie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burch
mesh_terms: D003125:Colostomy / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000451:nursing*; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods*; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D014547:Urinary Diversion / Q000451:nursing*