The Role of the Stoma Nurse Specialist

Stoma nurse specialists provide long-term care for those who have a stoma. Defining their role is just as difficult as agreeing on one universal name and title to describe them. Some of the frequently used titles include stoma care nurses, ostomy nurses, stomatherapists, and enterostomal therapists, to name a few. Nevertheless, these highly-skilled nurses are fundamental for ensuring that quality of life after stoma-formation surgery is restored and maintained to the highest possible level. They act as the key worker, first point of contact and long-term specialist supporting the constant changes of a life-saving but also life-changing surgery.

Every day, thousands of people in the UK and around the world adjust to life with a stoma. Stoma nurse specialists stand at their side, guiding, teaching, and championing their wellbeing. Despite only around 600 specialists serving more than 205,000 ostomates in the UK, these nurses work tirelessly to personalise care and enrich the quality of life.

Patients often describe the early weeks after surgery as overwhelming: learning how to adjust to their new normal, or dreading the first stoma bag changes, worrying about leaks, and coping with body image shifts. A stoma nurse specialist transforms this journey by:

  • Explaining procedures step by step in simple, reassuring language

  • Demonstrating pouch application techniques until the patient feels confident

  • Providing tailored troubleshooting tips for daily activities, swimming, sports, and travel

  • Offering emotional support and normalising concerns about intimacy or social life

These hands-on, empathetic interactions build trust and empower ostomates to regain control and reclaim everyday routines.

Medical staff in a clinic interacting with patients, with a doctor on a screen, and patients being examined or waiting.

While direct patient contact is core, a specialist’s impact radiates far beyond individual clinic rooms. Integrated into daily practice are some equally vital roles:

  • Leadership

    • Guiding multidisciplinary teams to streamline stoma pathways

    • Mentoring junior nurses to foster a culture of excellence

  • Management

    • Coordinating appointment schedules to reduce waiting times

    • Ensuring a consistent supply of appliances and accessories

  • Advocacy

    • Acting as patients’ voices at board meetings to secure funding

    • Liaising with social services for home-visit arrangements

  • Education

    • Developing leaflets, videos, and workshops on stoma care

    • Working with support groups that connect patients and families

  • Service Development

    • Evaluating local service gaps and piloting new outreach programs

    • Collaborating with charities to increase community awareness

  • Audit

    • Tracking complication rates and patient satisfaction scores

    • Implementing quality-improvement cycles to refine practice

  • Research & Innovation

    • Testing novel adhesive technologies in clinical trials

    • Publishing findings to influence national care standards

By weaving these functions seamlessly into their workflow, stoma nurse specialists ensure that every patient benefits from the latest evidence-based advances.

At its core, stoma care thrives on human connection. When specialists balance clinical excellence with leadership, advocacy, education, and research, they transform lives, helping ostomates move from anxiety to autonomy, from isolation to community.