OSTOMY CARE LATEST 2026 COURSE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔When observing the stoma, what color is abnormal? - ✔✔If the stoma is a pale,
dusky blue/gray/black, there is a problem
✔✔What is the normal shape and protrusion of a stoma? - ✔✔The stoma should be
round or oval and protrude about 1-3 cm from the abdomen
✔✔Where should the lumen of a stoma be located? - ✔✔The lumen should be located
in the center of the stoma
✔✔Mucocutaneous Junction (New stoma) - ✔✔Assess where stoma is sutured to skin
(protrusion)
✔✔Where should you measure a stoma? - ✔✔Should be measured around
mucocutaneous junction
✔✔What size appliance should be used with an ostomy/stoma? - ✔✔Find the smallest
size appliance that fits the stoma without allowing for more than 1/8" of skin exposure
✔✔When is it normal for a stoma to appear large and edematous? - ✔✔Normal after
surgery
✔✔What can be used to prevent the intestine loop from slipping back into the peritoneal
cavity? - ✔✔Rods and stents
✔✔When are rods and stents usually removed? - ✔✔Usually removed 5-7 days post-op
(up to 10 days depending on healing)
✔✔When assessing the skin after rods/stents are placed, what is normal? - ✔✔Skin
should be intact and without signs of irritation or erosion
✔✔What is effluent? - ✔✔Ostomy output
✔✔What is effluent from a more distal colostomy? - ✔✔Effluent will be more solid
✔✔What is effluent from an ascending colostomy? - ✔✔Effluent will be more liquid
✔✔What is effluent from an ilieostomy? - ✔✔Effluent will be liquid
✔✔What is effluent from a urostomy? - ✔✔Effluent is urine, but will have mucous
threads
, ✔✔What are some ostomy complications? - ✔✔Irritant dermatitis, mechanical
dermatitis, candidasis, Folliculitis, pseudoverrucous lesions, stoma prolapse, stoma
necrosis
✔✔Candidasis - ✔✔A fungal yeast infection
✔✔What are pseudoverrucous lesions? - ✔✔Uric acid and phosphate crystals under
skin; only seen with urostomy (feel like warts)
✔✔When can a stoma prolapse occur - ✔✔May occur with increased abdominal
pressure or obesity
✔✔What is a stoma prolapse? - ✔✔Loop of intestine migrates outside of the body
✔✔What do pouching systems consist of? - ✔✔Skin barrier, an adhesive barrier, and a
pouch
✔✔Skin barrier - ✔✔A part of a pouching system that is also known as a "Wafer" or a
"flange"
✔✔Adhesive barrier - ✔✔A part of a pouching system that goes against the patients
skin around the stoma; made of hydrocolloid/duaderm
✔✔Pouch - ✔✔The bad part of a pouching system that collects the ostomy output or
urostomy output
✔✔What is a one piece pouching system? - ✔✔A pouching system that is flatter and
more flexible, easier to apply, prevents leakage
✔✔What must you do when changing a one piece pouching system? - ✔✔Cannot
change the pouch without changing the skin barrier (more prone to breakdown)
✔✔Can the one piece pouching system bag be opened to release gas? - ✔✔No! Must
"burp" the bag
✔✔What is a two piece pouching system? - ✔✔Skin barrier and pouch are separate
(there is a locking device)
✔✔What is an advantage of a two piece pouching system? - ✔✔The pouch can be
removed without removing the skin barrier
✔✔What are the different types of skin barriers? - ✔✔Cut to fit, precut, convex
SOLUTIONS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔When observing the stoma, what color is abnormal? - ✔✔If the stoma is a pale,
dusky blue/gray/black, there is a problem
✔✔What is the normal shape and protrusion of a stoma? - ✔✔The stoma should be
round or oval and protrude about 1-3 cm from the abdomen
✔✔Where should the lumen of a stoma be located? - ✔✔The lumen should be located
in the center of the stoma
✔✔Mucocutaneous Junction (New stoma) - ✔✔Assess where stoma is sutured to skin
(protrusion)
✔✔Where should you measure a stoma? - ✔✔Should be measured around
mucocutaneous junction
✔✔What size appliance should be used with an ostomy/stoma? - ✔✔Find the smallest
size appliance that fits the stoma without allowing for more than 1/8" of skin exposure
✔✔When is it normal for a stoma to appear large and edematous? - ✔✔Normal after
surgery
✔✔What can be used to prevent the intestine loop from slipping back into the peritoneal
cavity? - ✔✔Rods and stents
✔✔When are rods and stents usually removed? - ✔✔Usually removed 5-7 days post-op
(up to 10 days depending on healing)
✔✔When assessing the skin after rods/stents are placed, what is normal? - ✔✔Skin
should be intact and without signs of irritation or erosion
✔✔What is effluent? - ✔✔Ostomy output
✔✔What is effluent from a more distal colostomy? - ✔✔Effluent will be more solid
✔✔What is effluent from an ascending colostomy? - ✔✔Effluent will be more liquid
✔✔What is effluent from an ilieostomy? - ✔✔Effluent will be liquid
✔✔What is effluent from a urostomy? - ✔✔Effluent is urine, but will have mucous
threads
, ✔✔What are some ostomy complications? - ✔✔Irritant dermatitis, mechanical
dermatitis, candidasis, Folliculitis, pseudoverrucous lesions, stoma prolapse, stoma
necrosis
✔✔Candidasis - ✔✔A fungal yeast infection
✔✔What are pseudoverrucous lesions? - ✔✔Uric acid and phosphate crystals under
skin; only seen with urostomy (feel like warts)
✔✔When can a stoma prolapse occur - ✔✔May occur with increased abdominal
pressure or obesity
✔✔What is a stoma prolapse? - ✔✔Loop of intestine migrates outside of the body
✔✔What do pouching systems consist of? - ✔✔Skin barrier, an adhesive barrier, and a
pouch
✔✔Skin barrier - ✔✔A part of a pouching system that is also known as a "Wafer" or a
"flange"
✔✔Adhesive barrier - ✔✔A part of a pouching system that goes against the patients
skin around the stoma; made of hydrocolloid/duaderm
✔✔Pouch - ✔✔The bad part of a pouching system that collects the ostomy output or
urostomy output
✔✔What is a one piece pouching system? - ✔✔A pouching system that is flatter and
more flexible, easier to apply, prevents leakage
✔✔What must you do when changing a one piece pouching system? - ✔✔Cannot
change the pouch without changing the skin barrier (more prone to breakdown)
✔✔Can the one piece pouching system bag be opened to release gas? - ✔✔No! Must
"burp" the bag
✔✔What is a two piece pouching system? - ✔✔Skin barrier and pouch are separate
(there is a locking device)
✔✔What is an advantage of a two piece pouching system? - ✔✔The pouch can be
removed without removing the skin barrier
✔✔What are the different types of skin barriers? - ✔✔Cut to fit, precut, convex
