A nurse is caring for a patient with a nasogastric (NG) tube and tests the pH of the secretions to verify correct placement of the tube.
What pH reading should the nurse expect?

Choice A rationale

Full thickness skin loss with visible bone is not described in the question. This would be a description of a stage IV pressure ulcer, which involves full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle.

Choice B rationale

Intact skin with localized erythema is not described in the question. This would be a description of a stage I pressure ulcer, which involves intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localized area usually over a bony prominence.

Choice C rationale

Partial-thickness skin loss with red tissue is not described in the question. This would be a description of a stage II pressure ulcer, which involves partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red pink wound bed, without slough.

Choice D rationale

Full thickness skin loss with visible adipose tissue is the condition described in the question. This would be a description of a stage III pressure ulcer, which involves full thickness tissue loss. Subcutaneous fat may be visible but bone, tendon, or muscle are not exposed.

Choice A rationale

A stoma may appear red and moist immediately after surgery, similar to the inside of the mouth. A purplish color could indicate a lack of blood supply to the stoma, which is a medical emergency.

Choice B rationale

A small amount of bleeding around the stoma is normal, especially when cleaning the area or changing the ostomy appliance. This is because the stoma contains blood vessels and has a rich blood supply.

Choice C rationale

Fecal output from a colostomy can be expected within 2 to 4 days after surgery. It is not typical to see output within 24 hours.

Choice D rationale

An increase in the intake of raw vegetables is not necessary after a colostomy. In fact, some people may find certain raw vegetables difficult to digest and they may cause gas or odor.