A nurse is planning care for a client who has a tracheostomy. Which of the following interprofessional team members should the nurse anticipate a provider's prescription for a referral to manage the client's tracheostomy?

A. The skin around the stoma is red: Redness around the stoma may indicate skin irritation, which is common but typically managed with proper skin care and is not always an urgent concern. However, if the redness is severe or associated with other symptoms, it should be monitored. Reporting may be necessary if it worsens.

B. The ostomy is draining frequently: Frequent drainage may be expected depending on the location of the colostomy and the client’s diet. While it should be monitored, frequent drainage alone does not necessarily indicate a problem that needs to be reported.

C. The stool is yellow-green: The color of stool can vary depending on diet, the location of the colostomy, and bile presence. Yellow-green stool is often expected in higher colostomies and may not need to be reported unless it is a sudden change.

D. The stoma is pale in color: A pale or dusky stoma can indicate compromised blood flow, which is a serious concern and should be reported to the provider immediately. A healthy stoma should be pink or red.

A. Increased muscle tone of the bowel: Aging generally leads to decreased muscle tone and motility in the bowel, not increased. This option is incorrect.

B. Decreased pH of the stomach: Aging is associated with a decrease in gastric acid production, leading to a higher (less acidic) pH, not a lower (more acidic) pH. This option is incorrect.

C. Decreased intestinal peristalsis: Aging commonly results in decreased intestinal peristalsis, which can lead to constipation and other digestive issues. This option is correct.

D. Increased gastric acid production: Older adults typically experience decreased gastric acid production, not an increase. This option is incorrect.