Final answer:
For a patient with a tracheostomy, sterile technique must be used when touching the tube, proper pre-suction aeration is necessary, and each suction should not exceed 15 seconds with breaks in between.
Step-by-step explanation:
The proper care of a patient with a tracheostomy involves understanding and applying several key practices to ensure patient safety and health. First, it is essential to employ sterile technique when touching a tracheostomy tube to prevent introduction of microbes that could lead to serious infections such as sepsis. Careful attention to maintaining a sterile field is imperative. Second, proper oxygenation of the patient is crucial before performing suction, meaning the patient should be well aerated to ensure adequate blood oxygen levels. Lastly, suctioning should be done carefully, never exceeding 15 seconds at a time to minimize mucosal damage, with sufficient resting intervals to allow the patient to recover and avoid hypoxemia.