Question

The nurse is caring for a patient who has undergone creation of a urinary diversion. Forty-eight hours postoperatively, the nurse's assessment reveals that the stoma is a dark purplish color. What is the nurse's most appropriate response?

A) Document the presence of a healthy stoma.
B) Assess the patient for further signs and symptoms of infection.
C) Inform the primary care provider that the vascular supply may be compromised.
D) Liaise with the wound-ostomy-continence (WOC) nurse because the ostomy appliance around the stoma may be too loose."

Answer 1

The nurse should inform the primary care provider that the vascular supply may be compromised.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's most appropriate response in this situation would be to inform the primary care provider that the vascular supply may be compromised. A dark purplish color of the stoma could indicate poor blood flow, which can be a sign of compromised vascular supply. This warrants immediate attention from the primary care provider to assess and address the situation.