Case management: a new practice model for ET nurses

Area of Science:

• Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Surgical Patient Care

Background:

• Traditional Enterostomal Therapy (ET) nursing focuses on ostomy care, including prosthetic fitting and patient education.
• The impact of ET nursing on ostomy patient outcomes requires further demonstration beyond basic care.
• Healthcare reform presents opportunities to expand the scope of ET nursing practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the expansion of ET nursing practice through a case management model.
• To describe the development of a case management system for gastrointestinal surgery patients.
• To detail the creation of a critical pathway for enhanced patient care.

Main Methods:

• Examination of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing practices.
• Development of a case management system for patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.
• Creation of a critical pathway (care map) for patient care coordination.

Main Results:

• ET nurses are exploring new roles, such as case management for surgical patients.
• A case management system and critical pathway were developed for gastrointestinal surgery patients.
• The study highlights the need for ET nurses to evaluate outcomes to justify specialty practice.

Conclusions:

• Case management offers a new avenue for ET nurses to impact patient outcomes, particularly in gastrointestinal surgery.
• Developing critical pathways is a key component of implementing a case management model.
• Evaluating care outcomes is essential for demonstrating the value and continued need for ET nursing specialists.