The patient with traumatic brain injury has been intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation.Which nursing interventions would help optimize oxygenation? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. A)Preoxygenate the patient prior to suctioning. B)Use very low vacuum pressure when suctioning the patient. C)Limit suction passes to 10 to 15 seconds or less. D)Suction when PaCO₂ levels rise above 40 mm Hg. E)Suction the patient before and after scheduled turns.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Preoxygenating the patient prior to suctioning and limiting suction passes to 10 to 15 seconds or less will help optimize oxygenation while minimizing the risk of hypoxia. Using very low vacuum pressure when suctioning the patient and suctioning the patient before and after scheduled turns are not proven interventions to optimize oxygenation. Suctioning based solely on PaCO2 levels is not an appropriate approach as other factors can affect oxygenation.

The Patient with Traumatic Brain Injury Has Been Intubated and Placed