What Is a Stoma Care Nurse?
A stoma care nurse (also called a stoma nurse, stoma nurse specialist or, internationally, an ostomy nurse) is a registered nurse with specialised training in caring for patients who have undergone stoma surgery, including colostomies, ileostomies and urostomies. These clinicians combine deep technical expertise with the emotional support that ostomates need during one of the most life-changing transitions in healthcare.
In the UK, stoma care nurses are NMC-registered nurses who have completed post-registration specialist education in stoma care, and most work as Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) within NHS colorectal and urology teams or in community stoma care services. The professional body for the specialty is the Association of Stoma Care Nurses UK (ASCN UK), which publishes the national clinical guidelines that shape stoma care across the NHS.
For ostomates, the difference between a generalist nurse and a specialist stoma care nurse can be enormous: better stoma siting, fewer leaks, faster appliance fit, lower hernia rates, and dramatically more confidence during the first 90 days post-surgery, when most quality-of-life issues are decided.
What Does a Stoma Care Nurse Do?
The role of a stoma care nurse spans the entire surgical journey, from pre-op planning through long-term community support. Day-to-day responsibilities typically include:
Pre-operative care
- Stoma site marking, identifying the optimal location on the abdomen for the stoma, accounting for body shape, waistline, scars and lifestyle.
- Education and counselling, explaining what a stoma is, what changes to expect, and answering patient and family questions.
- Selecting the appliance system, matching the right one-piece or two-piece pouching system to the patient's anatomy and mobility.
Post-operative and inpatient care
- Hands-on appliance changes and skin assessment around the stoma.
- Detecting early complications: peristomal skin irritation, retraction, prolapse, parastomal hernia and stenosis.
- Teaching the patient and family how to empty, change and clean the pouch confidently before discharge.
Community and home follow-up
- Adjusting wear time, barrier rings, accessories and pouch type as the stoma matures, and reviewing prescription (FP10) supply quantities so patients get what they actually need.
- Supporting return to work, exercise, intimacy, swimming and travel.
- Connecting patients with UK charities such as Colostomy UK, the Ileostomy & Internal Pouch Association and the Urostomy Association for peer support.
Why this matters: Published research consistently shows that patients who receive specialist stoma care nurse input before surgery, including pre-operative stoma siting, have significantly fewer post-discharge complications and adapt faster than those who do not, which is why ASCN UK guidelines recommend specialist involvement from the pre-op stage onwards.
Types of Stoma Care Nurses in the UK
Not every nurse involved in stoma care carries the same training. The most common roles you will encounter in the UK:
- Stoma Care Nurse Specialist / CNS, the core UK specialty role, usually hospital-based within colorectal or urology services. Read our full stoma care nurse guide.
- Community stoma care nurse, provides home visits and clinics after discharge; often linked to your local stoma care service or a home delivery company's nursing team.
- Colorectal / urology CNS with stoma training, manages stoma care as part of a broader cancer or surgical pathway.
- WOC Nurse (Wound, Ostomy, Continence), the North American equivalent of the UK stoma care nurse. Read our complete WOC nurse guide.
- ET Nurse (Enterostomal Therapy), the historical international term, still used in some countries; equivalent in scope.
For most ostomates, any specialist stoma care nurse is qualified; what matters most is access, continuity of care, and a personal fit with your nurse.
How to Become a Stoma Care Nurse in the UK
Becoming a stoma care nurse in the UK generally involves:
- NMC registration, complete an approved nursing degree (or nursing degree apprenticeship) and register as an adult nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
- Clinical experience, most specialist posts ask for solid experience in colorectal, surgical, gastro or urology nursing.
- Post-registration specialist education, university stoma care modules and courses (several UK universities offer accredited stoma care and tissue viability programmes), plus in-post competency training.
- Specialist practice, most stoma care nurse specialist posts are banded at NHS Band 6, with lead and advanced CNS roles at Band 7.
- Continuing professional development, NMC revalidation every three years, plus ASCN UK conferences and study days.
Salaries for stoma care nurse specialists in 2026 typically range from around £38,000 (Band 6) to £55,000+ (Band 7) on NHS Agenda for Change scales, with London weighting and private-sector or industry nursing roles paying more.
How to Find a Stoma Care Nurse Near You
If you are a patient or carer looking for a stoma care nurse in the UK, four reliable starting points:
- Your hospital stoma care department, every NHS trust that performs stoma surgery has a stoma care service, and patients keep open access to it for life in most areas; ring the department directly, no new referral needed in most cases.
- Your GP, who can refer you to the local stoma care service and manage your FP10 prescriptions for supplies.
- Colostomy UK and the other stoma charities, Colostomy UK runs a free helpline (0800 328 4257) and can point you to support in your area.
- Home delivery company nursing teams, services such as Fittleworth and SecuriCare have stoma care nurses who work alongside NHS teams.
Stoma care on the NHS is free at the point of use, and stoma supplies are available on prescription; in England, a permanent stoma qualifies you for a medical exemption certificate so prescriptions are free (they are already free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Telephone and video consultations with stoma nurses are now a mainstream option if you live far from your clinic.
Why Stoma Care Nurses Recommend SIIL
SIIL Ostomy is one of the few brands designed and tested with the input of specialist stoma care nurses, ostomates and surgeons. The result is a product line that solves the three problems nurses see most often:
- Pouch noise and visibility, every SIIL cover has an inner pocket that holds the bag secure and muffles plastic rustle, so patients worry less about it being seen or heard.
- Pouch weight and movement, SIIL belts and wraps give gentle, even support that holds the pouch flat without restricting drainage, popular with active ostomates and in the months after surgery. For hernia prevention, patients should follow their nurse’s or surgeon’s advice on a prescribed support garment.
- Quality of life and intimacy, soft, breathable fabrics in skin-friendly colours that flatten the pouch profile under clothing, restoring confidence in social, professional and intimate situations.
If you are a stoma care nurse, SIIL provides free patient brochures, sample kits and shareable digital flyers for UK clinics and stoma care departments; see the request form at the top of this page. If you are an ostomate, see the brands stoma nurses recommend in 2026 or browse the complete SIIL stoma bag covers collection.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stoma Care Nurses
What is the difference between a stoma nurse and an ostomy nurse?
The terms are used interchangeably. "Stoma nurse" or "stoma care nurse" is the standard term in the UK, Ireland and Australia; "ostomy nurse" or "WOC nurse" is more common in the United States and Canada. Both refer to a registered nurse with specialised training in caring for patients with colostomies, ileostomies and urostomies.
When should I see a stoma care nurse?
Ideally before surgery, for stoma site marking and pre-op education. After surgery, you should see your stoma nurse for the first appliance change, again at 4-6 weeks as the stoma settles, and any time you experience leaks, sore skin, or changes in the stoma's appearance. For long-term stable ostomates, an annual review is a good baseline, and most UK stoma departments keep open access so you can ring them whenever a problem appears.
Do I need a GP referral to see a stoma care nurse?
Usually not if you have had stoma surgery: most NHS stoma care departments operate open access for their existing patients, so you can contact the service directly. If you have moved area or were never linked to a service, your GP can refer you to the local stoma care team. Appointments on the NHS are free.
Are stoma care nurses the same as wound care (tissue viability) nurses?
There is overlap. Tissue viability nurses specialise in wounds and can manage minor peristomal skin issues, but they are not the right specialist for stoma siting, pouching system selection or hernia prevention. A specialist stoma care nurse covers the full stoma pathway, and in North America the combined role is called a WOC nurse (wound, ostomy and continence).
What products do stoma care nurses recommend most?
The most-recommended stoma products in the UK in 2026 fall into four categories: quality pouching systems (Coloplast, Hollister, Convatec, Salts Healthcare, Pelican), barrier rings and skin protectants (Eakin, Brava), stoma support belts (the SIIL Stoma Belt is consistently top-rated), and discreet stoma bag covers (the SIIL stoma bag covers line is widely cited for comfort and discretion).
How much does a stoma care nurse appointment cost in the UK?
Nothing on the NHS: stoma care nursing is free at the point of use, and your supplies are dispensed on FP10 prescription. In England a permanent stoma entitles you to a medical exemption certificate (free prescriptions); prescriptions are already free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Private stoma care consultations exist but are rarely needed given NHS open access.
Can stoma care nurses help with intimacy and emotional support?
Yes, and it is one of the most valuable aspects of working with a specialist stoma nurse. Topics like body image, intimacy after stoma surgery, return to sport, swimming, travel, and managing stigma at work are all part of routine stoma care practice. Most patients say the emotional support was as transformative as the clinical care.
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