Pages: 59 - 62
Article topics: Challenges, Planning, Signposting, Stoma, Travel
Community nurses are well placed to provide information about travel to people living with a stoma. Although much of the advice seems like common sense, learning to live with a stoma and adapt the stoma into lifestyles can be difficult. Patients often want advice and reassurance that they can travel — be this on foot, by car, boat or aeroplane. There is a great deal of information on the internet from support groups, which is often reviewed by healthcare professionals and people living with a stoma to ensure accuracy. There is also information available from stoma appliance manufacturers and dispensers on their websites. Healthcare professionals need to advocate caution in using other sites that may be the opinion of just one person and may not offer a balanced view. However, in general, community nurses can encourage travelling as a safe and enjoyable way to live after stoma forming surgery.