The teaching needs of persons with a surgically altered urinary tract system are significant. Patients undergoing this major abdominal surgery are at risk for multiple postoperative complications including pneumo- nia, ileus, infections, throm- bophlebitis, and emboli. Further, the potential for altered body image, incontinence, and changes in sexual functioning exist (Perimenis & Koliopanou, 2004). As the length of hospitalizatIon