Question

A nurse is suctioning an oropharyngeal airway for a patient who vomits when it is inserted. Which priority nursing action should be performed by the nurse related to this occurrence?

Answer 1

The priority nursing action is to immediately remove the oropharyngeal airway if the patient vomits when it is inserted.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, the priority nursing action related to the patient vomiting when the oropharyngeal airway is inserted would be to immediately remove the airway. Vomiting while the airway is in place can lead to aspiration, which is the inhalation of vomit into the lungs and can cause severe respiratory distress or even pneumonia. Once the airway is removed, the nurse should assess the patient's breathing, administer appropriate interventions to clear the airway, and monitor the patient closely for any signs of respiratory distress.