Stomas, whereby a portion of bowel is exteriorized and secured to the abdominal wall, are common and can be used in a wide variety of elective and emergent clinical settings. Stomas can be matured from the small bowel or colon, and are most frequently ileostomies (ileum) or colostomies (colon), and may be temporary or permanent. Clinical settings where a stoma may be useful include diverting stool away from an anastomosis, allowing a sacral decubitus ulcer to heal, managing sphincter complex dysfunction in neurologic conditions, and in inflammatory bowel disease. Wound and continence nurses (WOCN) are often instrumental in teaching patients how to manage stomas, as well as troubleshooting stoma appliance issues. Complications associated with stomas range in severity from skin irritation to ischemic bowel.