OSTOMY CARE LATEST 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔What are indications for belt use? - ✔✔Deeply convex faceplate (skin barrier), short
pouch-wearing time, high activity level (especially in children), heavy perspiration,
and/or personal preference
✔✔What is the purpose of a skin barrier? - ✔✔To protect the skin from the stoma
discharge and allow the pouching system to fit more securely
✔✔What is a useful accessory for weeping skin in an ostomy? - ✔✔Powders
✔✔What is a useful accessory for sealing the pouch? - ✔✔Pastes (are not glue!)
✔✔T or F: The skin barrier does not need to match the size of the stoma. - ✔✔False,
the skin barrier should match the size of the stoma
✔✔Absorbent gel packets and/or flakes - ✔✔Dissolve in effluent to make a gel and are
useful to decrease noise, control odor, and prevent skin irritation and leaking
✔✔What is best to cleanse skin around the stoma with? - ✔✔Plain water
✔✔Should skin be dried thoroughly after cleansing around the stoma? - ✔✔Yes, skin
should be allowed to dry thoroughly
✔✔What types of special skin care products should be avoided in ostomy care? -
✔✔Moisturizers, lanolin, petrolatum, and oils
✔✔Adhesives - ✔✔Come as cements or tapes
✔✔What is available to assist in removal of adhesives? - ✔✔Solvents
✔✔Irrigating sets - ✔✔1000 mL of lukewarm water is used to irrigate, the bowel
expands, peristalsis occurs, and waste exits the stoma (similar to using an enema at the
stoma)
✔✔Deodorizers - ✔✔Available as liquids or tablets (internal/external) that are placed
directly into the pouch to neutralize odor
✔✔What do some pouches contain to help control odor? - ✔✔Charcoal filters
✔✔What is a psychological complication of an ostomy? - ✔✔Anxiety and/or fear
, ✔✔When is fluid and electrolyte imbalance most problematic? - ✔✔In patients with a
liquid or semisoft discharge, which is least common in a descending or sigmoid
colostomy
✔✔How much fluid do patients typically lose through their stomas compared to a person
with a normally functioning colon? - ✔✔500-1000 mL compared to 100-200 mL
✔✔Why is it important to maintain adequate fluid intake? - ✔✔To prevent precipitation
of crystals and kidney or gallstones.
✔✔Why are ostomy patients vulnerable to fluid and electrolyte imbalance? - ✔✔Due to
vomiting and/or diarrhea
✔✔What are the signs and symptoms of fluid and electrolyte imbalance in adults? -
✔✔Increased thirst, dry mouth and mucous membrances, orthostatic hypotension,
decreased urine volume, increased urine concentration, sunken eyes, extreme
weakness, flaccid muscles, diminished reflexes, abdominal and leg muscle cramps,
lethargy, tingling or cramping in feet or hands, confusion, N/V, SOB
✔✔What are signs and symptoms of fluid and electrolyte imbalance in infants? -
✔✔Depressed fontanel, lethargy, sunken eyes, weak cry, decreased frequency of wet
diaper, increased urine concentration
✔✔What types of vitamin deficiencies may occur in ostomy patients? -
✔✔Hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, and copper deficiency
✔✔Where are many vitamins absorbed? - ✔✔Via the GI tract
✔✔What vitamins are absorbed in the small intestine? - ✔✔Iron, vitamin D2, and
vitamin D3
✔✔What vitamins are absorbed in the upper GI tract? - ✔✔Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
✔✔What vitamins are absorbed in the terminal ileum? - ✔✔Vitamin B12 and vitamin A
✔✔What vitamins are absorbed in the proximal small intestine? - ✔✔Vitamin K
(phytonadione), folic acid (B9)
✔✔What vitamins are absorbed in the distal small intestine? - ✔✔Menadione
✔✔What other vitamins are absorbed at various sites along the GI tract? - ✔✔Calcium,
pyridoxine (B6), pantothenic acid (B5), biotin (B7), choline, inositol, carnitine, vitamin C,
vitamin E, and thiamine (B1)
SOLUTIONS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔What are indications for belt use? - ✔✔Deeply convex faceplate (skin barrier), short
pouch-wearing time, high activity level (especially in children), heavy perspiration,
and/or personal preference
✔✔What is the purpose of a skin barrier? - ✔✔To protect the skin from the stoma
discharge and allow the pouching system to fit more securely
✔✔What is a useful accessory for weeping skin in an ostomy? - ✔✔Powders
✔✔What is a useful accessory for sealing the pouch? - ✔✔Pastes (are not glue!)
✔✔T or F: The skin barrier does not need to match the size of the stoma. - ✔✔False,
the skin barrier should match the size of the stoma
✔✔Absorbent gel packets and/or flakes - ✔✔Dissolve in effluent to make a gel and are
useful to decrease noise, control odor, and prevent skin irritation and leaking
✔✔What is best to cleanse skin around the stoma with? - ✔✔Plain water
✔✔Should skin be dried thoroughly after cleansing around the stoma? - ✔✔Yes, skin
should be allowed to dry thoroughly
✔✔What types of special skin care products should be avoided in ostomy care? -
✔✔Moisturizers, lanolin, petrolatum, and oils
✔✔Adhesives - ✔✔Come as cements or tapes
✔✔What is available to assist in removal of adhesives? - ✔✔Solvents
✔✔Irrigating sets - ✔✔1000 mL of lukewarm water is used to irrigate, the bowel
expands, peristalsis occurs, and waste exits the stoma (similar to using an enema at the
stoma)
✔✔Deodorizers - ✔✔Available as liquids or tablets (internal/external) that are placed
directly into the pouch to neutralize odor
✔✔What do some pouches contain to help control odor? - ✔✔Charcoal filters
✔✔What is a psychological complication of an ostomy? - ✔✔Anxiety and/or fear
, ✔✔When is fluid and electrolyte imbalance most problematic? - ✔✔In patients with a
liquid or semisoft discharge, which is least common in a descending or sigmoid
colostomy
✔✔How much fluid do patients typically lose through their stomas compared to a person
with a normally functioning colon? - ✔✔500-1000 mL compared to 100-200 mL
✔✔Why is it important to maintain adequate fluid intake? - ✔✔To prevent precipitation
of crystals and kidney or gallstones.
✔✔Why are ostomy patients vulnerable to fluid and electrolyte imbalance? - ✔✔Due to
vomiting and/or diarrhea
✔✔What are the signs and symptoms of fluid and electrolyte imbalance in adults? -
✔✔Increased thirst, dry mouth and mucous membrances, orthostatic hypotension,
decreased urine volume, increased urine concentration, sunken eyes, extreme
weakness, flaccid muscles, diminished reflexes, abdominal and leg muscle cramps,
lethargy, tingling or cramping in feet or hands, confusion, N/V, SOB
✔✔What are signs and symptoms of fluid and electrolyte imbalance in infants? -
✔✔Depressed fontanel, lethargy, sunken eyes, weak cry, decreased frequency of wet
diaper, increased urine concentration
✔✔What types of vitamin deficiencies may occur in ostomy patients? -
✔✔Hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, and copper deficiency
✔✔Where are many vitamins absorbed? - ✔✔Via the GI tract
✔✔What vitamins are absorbed in the small intestine? - ✔✔Iron, vitamin D2, and
vitamin D3
✔✔What vitamins are absorbed in the upper GI tract? - ✔✔Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
✔✔What vitamins are absorbed in the terminal ileum? - ✔✔Vitamin B12 and vitamin A
✔✔What vitamins are absorbed in the proximal small intestine? - ✔✔Vitamin K
(phytonadione), folic acid (B9)
✔✔What vitamins are absorbed in the distal small intestine? - ✔✔Menadione
✔✔What other vitamins are absorbed at various sites along the GI tract? - ✔✔Calcium,
pyridoxine (B6), pantothenic acid (B5), biotin (B7), choline, inositol, carnitine, vitamin C,
vitamin E, and thiamine (B1)
