| Knowledge |
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States Contraindications
and Relative Contraindications
of procedure.
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| Preparation |
| Clinical Standards for Procedures and Interventions. |
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| Identifies and gathers required equipment: sterile suction catheter appropriately sized for the artificial airway, sterile gloves, sterile saline (per policy), suction source and regulator, oxygen source for preoxygenation, resuscitation bag. |
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| Assessment |
| Assesses Vital Signs. |
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| Assesses indications (visible secretions, coarse breath sounds, desaturation) and evaluates hemodynamic stability. |
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| Implementation |
| Adjusts suction pressure to the patient-appropriate range. |
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| Assures preoxygenation with 100% oxygen for 30 to 60 seconds, if indicated. |
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| Advises the patient about anticipated effects of suctioning, including coughing and temporary breathlessness, if awake and able to understand. |
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| Disconnects patient from ventilator or oxygen source briefly; inserts sterile suction catheter without suction until resistance or cough is encountered; withdraws 1 cm, applies suction while withdrawing in a rotating motion, limiting each pass to 10 - 15 seconds; reconnects patient promptly. |
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| Reoxygenates and reassesses breath sounds and ventilator parameters; repeats only as indicated. |
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| Monitoring & Modifications |
| Monitors patient tolerance, work of breathing, and oxygenation/ventilation response during the intervention. |
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| Adjusts technique/device settings per patient response; discontinues suctioning and notifies provider if adverse reactions occur. |
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| Collects and examines sputum/secretions as indicated (amount, consistency, color) and documents findings. |
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| Post-Intervention |
| Post-Intervention Management Steps. |
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