Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewRoleTrainingWhere to Find an ET NurseWhen to Contact Them
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
Role
Training
Where to Find an ET Nurse
When to Contact Them
Anenterostomaltherapy nurse, or ET nurse, is a registered nurse (RN) who has specialized training in treating patients with ostomies (such as an ileostomy, colostomy, or urostomy). Sometimes these nurses are called stoma nurses (particularly in Europe). ET nurses also treat other conditions, such as wounds orincontinence.
If you are undergoing ostomy surgery, an ET nurse can be a critical part of your care team before, during, and after surgery. They can help you make decisions about stoma placement, assist in the transition from the hospital to home, and help you learn how to use your ostomy appliance.
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What Is Enterostomal Therapy?
Enterostomal therapy is a specialized type of care provided to patients with:
Nurses who specialize in enterostomal therapy play an important role on the care team in the office, hospital, and home healthcare settings.
What Does an ET Nurse Do?
An ET nurse may treat patients before, during, and after their ostomy surgery. An ET nurse may be a patient’s first and primary point of contact for information regarding their stoma and theirileostomy,colostomy, or urostomy. An ET nurse may care for adult or pediatric patients.
Before surgery:At a first meeting, if ostomy surgery is not done on an emergency basis, an ET nurse may help a patient with the placement of the stoma. Taking lifestyle and clothing into consideration, an ET nurse can assist a patient in determining the optimal placement for a stoma—for instance, away from the waist, so that clothing does not interfere with stoma output.
ET nurses are trained to provide information about ostomy appliances and can offer assistance for those who need help in obtaining or affording supplies.
For patients who have a stoma as a result of surgery to treatinflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ET nurses can be helpful if there is a question about peristomal skin (skin around the stoma) or stoma output, such as if there is too much or too little output. An ET nurse will be able to suggest some treatments for problems such as afistula, irritated skin, blockages, or other issues related to an ostomy.
ET nurses are often with their patients long-term, especially in cases where a patient needs ongoing help in changing their appliance. Stoma nurses may also help during the actual ostomy surgery and be part of the surgical team.
ET nurses often make house calls, especially after surgery, to help patients with common situations such as surgical pain and with the transition to understanding their new stoma.
How Much Training Do ET Nurses Have?
Advanced practice certification is also available. ET nurses may go on to earn a master’s degree or a doctorate in nursing.
Keep in mind that you may need areferral for insurancepurposes. Be sure to check with your insurance provider regarding requirements to get specific coverage information.
When to Contact Your ET Nurse
After your ostomy surgery, your ET nurse will help you gain confidence in using your new appliance. Some ET nurses maintain longer-term relationships with patients who need ongoing care, but most will eventually become independent. However, there are some instances where you should reach out to your enterostomal therapy nurse for specialized care.
If you have had a colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy, you should contact your ET nurse if you experience:
Experiencing any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that something is wrong, but a trained professional can evaluate the symptom(s) and determine if further care is needed.
Summary
An enterostomal therapy nurse, also called an ET nurse, is a healthcare provider with specialized training to help those who are undergoing or have had an ileostomy, colostomy, or urostomy. They are an integral part of the care team before, during, and after surgery.
Learning to care for your stoma and use an ostomy appliance can feel intimidating or even overwhelming at first. But your ET nurse can help you adjust so that you can live with a sense of security and confidence.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Härle K, Börjeson S, Hallböök O, Myrelid P, Thylén I.Healthcare professionals’ experiences of providing care for patients with enterocutaneous fistula in hospital and in homecare: A qualitative study. Abhyankar P, ed.PLoS ONE. 2023;18(5):e0284782.Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.Wound and Ostomy.Naseh L, Shahriari M, Hayrabedian A, Moeini M.Nurses’ viewpoints on factors affecting ostomy care: A qualitative content analysis.Nursing Open. 2023;10(8):5261-5270.EveryNurse.Enterostomal Therapy Nurse.Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board.Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Exams.United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc.When to Contact Your Stoma Care Nurse.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Härle K, Börjeson S, Hallböök O, Myrelid P, Thylén I.Healthcare professionals’ experiences of providing care for patients with enterocutaneous fistula in hospital and in homecare: A qualitative study. Abhyankar P, ed.PLoS ONE. 2023;18(5):e0284782.Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.Wound and Ostomy.Naseh L, Shahriari M, Hayrabedian A, Moeini M.Nurses’ viewpoints on factors affecting ostomy care: A qualitative content analysis.Nursing Open. 2023;10(8):5261-5270.EveryNurse.Enterostomal Therapy Nurse.Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board.Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Exams.United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc.When to Contact Your Stoma Care Nurse.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Härle K, Börjeson S, Hallböök O, Myrelid P, Thylén I.Healthcare professionals’ experiences of providing care for patients with enterocutaneous fistula in hospital and in homecare: A qualitative study. Abhyankar P, ed.PLoS ONE. 2023;18(5):e0284782.Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.Wound and Ostomy.Naseh L, Shahriari M, Hayrabedian A, Moeini M.Nurses’ viewpoints on factors affecting ostomy care: A qualitative content analysis.Nursing Open. 2023;10(8):5261-5270.EveryNurse.Enterostomal Therapy Nurse.Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board.Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Exams.United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc.When to Contact Your Stoma Care Nurse.
Härle K, Börjeson S, Hallböök O, Myrelid P, Thylén I.Healthcare professionals’ experiences of providing care for patients with enterocutaneous fistula in hospital and in homecare: A qualitative study. Abhyankar P, ed.PLoS ONE. 2023;18(5):e0284782.
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.Wound and Ostomy.
Naseh L, Shahriari M, Hayrabedian A, Moeini M.Nurses’ viewpoints on factors affecting ostomy care: A qualitative content analysis.Nursing Open. 2023;10(8):5261-5270.
EveryNurse.Enterostomal Therapy Nurse.
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board.Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Exams.
United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc.When to Contact Your Stoma Care Nurse.
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