The nurse is providing care to a patient who has a tracheostomy.The loss of which protective mechanism does the nurse plan to monitor this patient for during the respiratory assessment process?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

With a tracheostomy, the upper airway is bypassed, which eliminates the natural filtration and humidification of inspired air provided by the nose and upper airway. The loss of these protective mechanisms can cause irritation and dryness of the lower airway. Therefore, the nurse needs to monitor for signs of airway irritation and dryness such as cough, sore throat, and thick secretions. decreasing the oxygen carrying capacity of the trachea and the sneeze reflex are not relevant to the loss of the protective mechanism in this case.

The Nurse Is Providing Care to a Patient Who Has