Nursing Students’ Perceptions Following an Ostomy Experiential Activity: A Qualitative Study

The study aimed to describe nursing students’ perception after an experiential learning activity of wearing an ostomy device. A qualitative research design to determine themes was used. Students enrolled in a nursing skills course, wore an ostomy appliance for a four-hour lab. After completion of the lab, students submitted a written reflection assignment describing their perception of wearing an ostomy appliance. Results from the thematic analysis revealed three distinct recurring themes: student affective response, student perceptions of the patient experience, and student perceived outcomes. Student comments indicated the affective domain and empathy for the patient was reached.