Final answer:
A nurse must have a tracheostomy emergency kit at the bedside of a tracheostomy patient, which includes spare tubes, an obturator, suctioning equipment, saline, oxygen, scissors, and a bag-valve mask.
Step-by-step explanation:
When caring for a patient with a tracheostomy, it is imperative for a nurse to always have a tracheostomy emergency kit at the bedside. This kit typically includes a spare tracheostomy tube of the same size and one size smaller, a tracheostomy tube obturator to assist with insertion, suctioning equipment, saline solution for suctioning, oxygen supply, scissors, and a bag-valve mask for manual respiration if needed. These items are essential for prompt management of any respiratory distress or obstruction of the tracheostomy tube, ensuring the patient’s airway remains patent and secure.