Author Question: The nurse is performing nasotracheal suctioning for a patient. Which action by the nurse is ... (Read 34 times)

KimWrice · **on:** Jul 24, 2018

The nurse is performing nasotracheal suctioning for a patient. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?

a. Applying intermittent suctioning while slowly withdrawing the suction catheter
b. Carefully pushing the suction catheter in and out while applying suction
c. Applying suction for 15 seconds or less
d. Asking the patient to deep-breathe for 15 seconds before passing the catheter a second time

Question 2

A client requires a sterile dressing change for a midabdominal surgical incision. An appropriate intervention for the nurse to implement in maintaining sterile asepsis is to:

A. Put sterile gloves on before opening sterile packages
B. Discard packages that may have been in contact with the area below waist level
C. Place the cap of the sterile solution well within the sterile field
D. Place sterile items on the very edge of the sterile drape

shoemake · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 24, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C
Suction should be applied for 15 seconds or less to avoid cardiopulmonary compromise from hypoxemia or vagal overload. Continuous suction and back and forth rotation of the catheter are now recommended because studies show that tracheal damage from intermittent and continuous suctioning was similar. The catheter should be rotated back and forth, not pushed in and out. At least 1 minute should be allowed between suction passes for ventilation and oxygenation.

Answer to Question 2

B
B. A sterile object held below a person's waist is considered contaminated. To maintain sterile asepsis, discard packages that may have been in contact with the area below waist level.
A. Sterile gloves are not put on before opening sterile packages, because the outside of the packages is not sterile. The nurse uses hand hygiene and opens sterile packages being careful to keep the inner contents sterile.
C. After a cap or lid is removed, it is held in the hand or placed sterile side (inside) up on a clean surface. A bottle cap or lid should never rest on a sterile surface, even though the inside of the cap is sterile.
D. The edges of a sterile field are considered to be contaminated. Sterile items should be placed in the middle of the sterile field to maintain sterile asepsis.