The nurse is caring for a spontaneously breathing patient who has a tracheostomy. To determine that the patient can protect the airway when eating without having the tracheostomy cuff inflated, the nurse will deflate the cuff and

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Assessing the ability of the patient to drink a colored fluid, such as grape juice, will provide evidence that the patient will not aspirate. Even if the patient is able to talk, aspiration may occur. Because the patient is already breathing spontaneously, deflating the cuff would not cause respiratory distress. Crackles are not present immediately after aspiration, since the inflammatory process takes time to occur.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Spontaneously Breathing Patient Who