This concise and practical resource book aims to equip the nurse to effectively address the physical and psychosocial needs of patients with ostomies and continent diversions in a variety of care settings. The focus is on the nurse's role in educating the patient and family before the surgery, during the hospital stay, at discharge and during follow-up. The text presents specific guidelines for nursing care, incorporating recent research and clinical findings. The author reviews anatomy and physiology of the GI and GU tracts and describes the surgical procedures and equipment used in constructing all types of GI and GU diversions to familiarize readers with nursing care responsibilities. There is a separate chapter on indications, construction and nursing management, and a section on oncology. The book also considers potential peristomal and stomal complications and provides learning objectives and self-evaluation sections to facilitate self-directed learning.