The nurse is caring for a patient with a tracheostomy tube. Which nursing intervention is most effective in promoting effective airway clearance?
A) Suctioning respiratory secretions several times every hour
B) Administering humidified oxygen through a tracheostomy collar
C) Instilling normal saline into the tracheostomy to thin secretions before suctioning
D) Deflating the tracheostomy cuff before allowing the patient to cough up secretions

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Humidification from air humidifiers or humidified oxygen tracheostomy collars can help prevent drying of secretions that cause occlusion. Suctioning should be done only as needed; too frequent suctioning can damage the mucosal lining, resulting in thicker secretions. Normal saline should not be instilled into a tracheostomy; research showed no benefit with this technique. The purpose of the tracheostomy cuff is to keep secretions from entering the lungs; the nurse should not deflate the tracheostomy cuff unless instructed to do so by the health care provider.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with a Tracheostomy