The student nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative day 3 following a colostomy. While changing the dressing, the student nurse notes that the stoma is dusky in color

The student asks his preceptor what this might indicate. What should the nurse preceptor respond?
A) This is a normal color postoperatively.
B) The patient's oxygen saturation may be low.
C) Circulation to the stoma is compromised.
D) The stoma is blocked.


Ans: C

Feedback: Postoperative complications following colon resection may include hemorrhage, infection, and anastomosis. A healthy viable stoma should be pink. This does not indicate that the patient's oxygen saturation is low or that the stoma is blocked.

Nursing

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