Final answer:
The first step before suctioning a patient with a non-productive cough and presence of secretions in his tracheostomy is to assess the patient's respiratory status.
Once the patient is stable, gather the necessary equipment for suctioning. Finally, perform hand hygiene, put on sterile gloves, and gently insert the suction catheter into the tracheostomy tube.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prior to suctioning a patient with a non-productive cough and presence of secretions in his tracheostomy, the first step should be to assess the patient's respiratory status. This includes checking the oxygen saturation level, respiratory rate, and auscultating the lung sounds. It is important to ensure that the patient is stable and not in distress before proceeding with suctioning.
Once the patient's respiratory status is assessed and deemed stable, the next step would be to gather the necessary equipment for suctioning. This includes a suction catheter, sterile gloves, sterile saline solution, and a suction machine.
After the equipment is gathered, the next step would be to perform hand hygiene and put on sterile gloves. The suction catheter can then be inserted gently into the tracheostomy tube while applying intermittent suction and withdrawing the catheter. This helps to remove the secretions and clear the airway.