Staff nurse confidence in their skills and knowledge and barriers to caring for patients with ostomies.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with ostomies often state that staff nurses display a lack of confidence in knowledge and skills related to ostomy care. This study examined the confidence and perceptions of barriers among hospital staff nurses when caring for ostomy patients.


METHODS
Descriptive, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 576 staff nurses, including 510 registered, 61 licensed practical, and 5 unspecified nurses, participated in the study. The study sample practiced at 3 sites: an academic medical center, a Veteran's Administration Center, and a not-for-profit 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 confidence in providing ostomy care and perceived barriers.


RESULTS
Higher confidence 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 confidence 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 certified ostomy nurse practiced at their institution.


CONCLUSIONS
Confidence of staff nurses in delivering ostomy care was higher with training and experience. Opportunities for continuing education may increase staff nurse confidence 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.
Heidi Huddleston Cross, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, CWOCN, Upstate University Hospital, Syracuse, New York. Cheryl A. Roe, MS, Instructor, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York. Dongliang Wang, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York.
Heidi Huddleston
HH
Cross
Cheryl A
CA
Roe
Dongliang
D
Wang
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D010030:Ostomy / Q000451:nursing*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires