Online Ostomy Certification Course

Course Schedule

Upon purchasing the online course, you have 180 days to complete all 22 sections at your pace.  After completing the online course, work with your selected credentialing board to schedule your certification exam at a testing center.

CE Hours: 36

Online Sections

Section 1: General Overview of Ostomy Care

Learning Objectives:

• Define ostomy and stoma.

• Differentiate between an incontinent diversion and a continent diversion.
• Relate how the practice of the Ostomy Management Specialist (OMS) may differ in select healthcare settings.

Section 2: Wound Healing

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate types of wound closure.
• Identify primary action(s) in each of the four phases of wound healing.
• Recall at least three benefits of moist wound healing.
• Relate at least three factors or conditions that can impair wound healing.

Section 3: Anatomy and Physiology of the GI System

Learning Objectives:

• State the function of the four layers of the alimentary canal.
• Discriminate between the locations and the functions of each structure of the alimentary canal from the mouth to the anus.
• Define the functions of the accessory organs.

Section 4: GI Ostomies

Learning Objectives:

• Discriminate between the types of GI incontinent ostomies.
• Differentiate between an end stoma, a loop stoma, and a double barrel stoma.
• Detail ideal stoma characteristics.
• Compare and contrast a Kock pouch and an ileoanal reservoir.
• Identify postoperative management of the patient with a GI ostomy.

Section 5: Gastrointestinal Disorders that May Require Ostomy Surgery 

Learning Objectives:

• Contrast dynamic and adynamic bowel obstructions.
• Differentiate symptoms and diagnostic findings of ulcerative colitis from Crohn’s disease.
• Recall at least three extraintestinal manifestations associated with inflammatory bowel disease.
• List at least three medications commonly used for inflammatory bowel disease.
• Identify surgical interventions frequently used for colorectal cancer, abdominal trauma, and ruptured diverticulum.

Section 6: Anatomy and Physiology of the Urinary System

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the components of the upper urinary tract and the lower urinary tract.
• Recall at least three functions of the kidney.
• Outline the micturation process.

Section 7: Types of Urinary Ostomies

Learning Objectives:

• Contrast an ileal conduit and a ureterostomy.
• Differentiate between an Indiana pouch and a Mitrofanoff diversion.
• Relate the care of an orthotopic neobladder.

Section 8: Urinary Tract Disorders that May Require Ostomy Surgery

Learning Objectives:

• Identify at least three risk factors for bladder cancer.
• Differentiate between a segmental cystectomy and a radical cystectomy.
• Recall at least three interventions for interstitial cystitis.
• Relate the pathophysiology of neurogenic bladder.

Section 9: Adjustment to a Stoma

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize the 4 phases of adjustment.
• Identify emotions that a new ostomy patient is likely to experience before and after the creation of a stoma or a continent diversion.
• State at least 3 specific interventions to assist the patient with a stoma with adaptation to the stoma.

Section 10: Stoma Assessment

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize key characteristics required for stomal and peristomal skin assessment.
• Demonstrate a stoma assessment.

Section 11: Stoma Siting

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize the principles of stoma siting.
• Restate the steps of stoma siting procedure for optimal location on abdomen for a stoma.

Section 12: 

Learning Objectives:

• Pouching System and Accessory Products for Stoma Care: Outline the different types and indications of pouching systems and accessories used with stoma pouching systems.
• Classify ostomy pouching systems based on construction as one- or two-piece, closed end or drainable, and characteristics of the skin barriers.
• Demonstrate application, emptying, and removal of a cut to fit pouching system.

Section 13: Peristomal Skin Complications

Learning Objectives:

• Recall the etiology, identification, and treatment of 5 peri-stomal complications.

Section 14: Stoma Complications

Learning Objectives:

• Recall the etiology, identification, and treatment, both conservative and surgical, if appropriate, of 5 stomal complications.

Section 15: Fistula Management

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate between types of fistulas in terms of causative factors, pathophysiology, and principles of management.

Section 16: Special Ostomy Procedures

Learning Objectives:

• List indications, contraindications, and procedure steps for colostomy irrigation.

• Relate causes, symptoms, and interventions for ileostomy food blockage.
• Demonstrate the “crusting” procedure.

Section 17: Pouching System Assessment

Learning Objectives:

• Choose interventions for 3 pouching system challenges.

Section 18: Tubes

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the purpose, design, location in the intestine, methods of accessing and management of three enterostomal and three enterostomy tubes.
• Summarize the best evidence for preventing urinary catheter-related complications.
• State how to assess for, prevent, and manage four enteral tube complications.

Section 19: Management of the Pediatric Patient with an Ostomy

Learning Objectives:

• Identify conditions the pediatric patient may have that require a fecal or urinary diversion.
• Summarize the management of a pediatric patient with a urinary or fecal diversion.

Section 20: Patient Education

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize the goals of pre-operative teaching, list what should be covered, and develop an individualized teaching plan for a patient based on an assessment of their learning needs.
• Demonstrate patient teaching methods for application, emptying and removal of a pouching system.
• Summarize the goals of post-operative teaching. List what should be covered and develop an individualized teaching plan based on an assessment of their learning needs.

Section 21: OMS Workbook

Section 22: OMS Final Exam

Supplementary Content:

All learners, regardless of onsite/live online/online self-paced should receive the same content. Self-paced lessons are uploaded for onsite/live online learners as a resource item. The PowerPoint presentations are identical to slides included in the self-paced lessons.

• Flash Cards
• Crossword Puzzles
• Match Up