Ileostomy Preoperative Teaching

In this question, we're asked to identify the correct instruction a nurse should provide to a patient who is preparing for an ileostomy.

Let's start by looking at option A, which suggests the patient will have solid stool. Since an ileostomy involves the small intestine, specifically the ileum, the digestion process doesn't reach the large intestine where water is reabsorbed. Therefore, the output is typically liquid or semi-liquid, not solid. We can rule this out.

Next, let's look at option B regarding the color of the stoma. A healthy stoma should be pinkish-red, well-perfused, and moist. If a stoma is purple or dark blue, it indicates a medical emergency called ischemia, or lack of blood flow. We would never teach a patient to expect this.

Now consider option C, which mentions the anatomical location. An ileostomy is typically placed in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen because that is where the terminal ileum is located. This sounds like a correct and standard piece of information for preoperative teaching.