Abstract
Patients with new ostomies are being discharged from the hospital without enough hands-on training for ostomy care. Maintaining healthy peristomal skin is one of the greatest challenges for patients with an ostomy. Unfortunately, peristomal complications are very common and affect quality of life. It is important that home healthcare clinicians maintain competency in ostomy care, so they have the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent and treat peristomal complications. This article focuses on peristomal skin assessment as well as prevention and treatment of common peristomal complications.