Question

A nurse is preparing to preform endotracheal suctioning for a client. Which of the following are appropriate guidelines for the nurse to follow? Select all.

A. Apply suction while withdrawing the catheter
B. Perform suctioning on a routine basis, Q2-3 hours
C. Maintain medical asepsis during suctioning
D. Use a new catheter for each suctioning attempt
E. Limit suctioning to 2-3 attempts

Answer 1

When performing endotracheal suctioning, a nurse should apply suction while withdrawing the catheter, maintain medical asepsis, use a new catheter for each attempt, and limit suctioning to 2-3 attempts to ensure safety and prevent infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse is preparing to perform endotracheal suctioning for a client, several appropriate guidelines should be followed to ensure patient safety and procedure efficacy. The guidelines that the nurse should follow include:

• Apply suction while withdrawing the catheter: Suction should only be applied while gently withdrawing the catheter to avoid trauma to the tracheal mucosa.
• Maintain medical asepsis during suctioning: It is crucial to prevent infections by maintaining aseptic technique throughout the suctioning process.
• Use a new catheter for each suctioning attempt: This reduces the risk of infection and ensures that each suctioning procedure is carried out with a sterile catheter.
• Limit suctioning to 2-3 attempts: To minimize oxygen desaturation and potential damage to the airways, suctioning should be limited to a few necessary attempts.

It's important to note that suctioning should not be performed on a routine basis, such as every 2-3 hours, but rather as clinically indicated based on the patient's assessment.