ABSTRACT

Neonatal intensive care nurses are the first-line clinicians with the opportunity to detect early signs of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) development in premature infants. In infants who undergo surgery and stoma creation, nurses are called on to care for stomas and to recognize any complications that could arise from the stoma creation. The rate of feeding advancement is determined by how well the infant is tolerating the feeds, which is determined in part by the stoma output. Stomal therapists are involved in educating parents with new babies with stomas and provide the education they require to discharge home safely. Several products are available for the management of infant stomas. Parents whose infant is being discharged with a stoma will be required to learn to care for the stoma before discharge. Stomas are an integral part of the management of infants with NEC, and the bedside nurse plays an important role in stoma care.