During care for a postoperative client with a colostomy, what assessment finding would the nurse recognize as normal?

A brick-red stoma color is recognized as normal and indicates good blood supply and healthy tissue following colostomy surgery. The stoma should appear red and moist, similar to the inside of the mouth, indicating that it is properly perfused with blood. This coloration is a sign that there are no vascular complications and that the stoma is healing appropriately.

Other colors such as pale or purple could indicate complications. A pale stoma may suggest poor blood circulation or ischemia, while a purple stoma could indicate strangulation or necrosis, both of which would require immediate medical evaluation. As for green drainage, this may be associated with the type of output from the colostomy but does not indicate a healthy stoma color or condition. Therefore, the presence of a brick-red stoma color is indicative of proper healing and normal function post-surgery.