Clinical Nursing Skills & Techniques, Ch. 25:
Airway Management Exam Questions and Correct
Answer
1. A patient with a tracheostomy tube has thick, tenacious mucus
that is difficult to remove. The nurse should choose which
technique to suction the airway?
a. Normal saline instillation (NSI) before suctioning
b. Dry suctioning 1 time followed by NSI with suctioning 2 more times
c. Dry suctioning as long as the heart rate is above 60 beats/min
d. Dry suctioning correct answer: d. Dry suctioning
2. A patient using a nasal cannula has gurgling on inspiration. The
nurse notes a productive cough but the inability to clear the
secretions from the mouth. Which action should the nurse take first
to prepare for oropharyngeal suction- ing?
a. Apply clean gloves and a mask.
b. Insert the suction device to the back of the throat.
c. Remove the patient's nasal cannula.
d. Connect the tubing to a standard suction catheter. correct answer: a.
Apply clean gloves and a mask.
3. After oropharyngeal suctioning of a patient, the nurse notes
bloody secre- tions in the suction catheter and tubing. What
should the nurse do next?
a. Increase the suction pressure.
b. Provide additional oxygen.
c. Reduce the frequency of oral hygiene.
d. Check the suction catheter for nicks. correct answer: d. Check the suction catheter
for nicks.
4. The nurse is caring for an infant who has been vomiting and is
having difficulty breathing. What actions by the nurse are
,appropriate for suctioning the infant?
a. Place the infant in a supine position.
b. Suction only when a large amount of mucus is present.
c. Suction for only 30 seconds.
d. Compress the bulb syringe after it is placed in the nostril correct answer: a.
Place the infant in a supine position.
5. A patient on mechanical ventilation with an endotracheal tube
requires suc- tioning. A closed in-line catheter is in place. Which
action by the nurse is appropriate?
, a. Use manual ventilation to hyperoxygenate the patient with 100%
oxygen via Ambu bag.
b. Push the catheter and slide the plastic sleeve back when the patient
exhales.
c. Push the catheter in until resistance is felt or the patient coughs.
d. Apply suction for no longer than 30 seconds as you remove the
catheter. correct answer: c. Push the catheter in until resistance is felt or the patient
coughs
6. The nurse is assessing several patients who have returned
from surgery. Which finding most likely indicates a need for
suctioning?
a. Complaint of pain when breathing
b. Cough producing thick yellow mucus
c. Oxygen saturation level of 88%
d. Drowsiness and respiratory rate of 8 correct answer: c. Oxygen saturation level
of 88%
7. A patient with head trauma following a motor vehicle accident is on
mechani- cal ventilation with an endotracheal tube. Which action by
the nurse will reduce the risk for elevations in intracranial pressure
during suctioning?
a. Avoid hyperoxygenating the patient before suctioning.
b. Insert the suction catheter just to the end of the endotracheal
tube.
c. Apply suction while inserting the catheter.
d. Limit suctioning to 2 times with each suctioning procedure. correct
answer: d. Limit suctioning to 2 times with each suctioning procedure.
8. The student nurse is preparing to perform nasotracheal
suctioning on an adult patient wearing a face mask. Which action
by the student should the nursing instructor question?
a. Increasing the oxygen flow rate for the face mask and asking
the patient to deepbreathe slowly before suctioning
Airway Management Exam Questions and Correct
Answer
1. A patient with a tracheostomy tube has thick, tenacious mucus
that is difficult to remove. The nurse should choose which
technique to suction the airway?
a. Normal saline instillation (NSI) before suctioning
b. Dry suctioning 1 time followed by NSI with suctioning 2 more times
c. Dry suctioning as long as the heart rate is above 60 beats/min
d. Dry suctioning correct answer: d. Dry suctioning
2. A patient using a nasal cannula has gurgling on inspiration. The
nurse notes a productive cough but the inability to clear the
secretions from the mouth. Which action should the nurse take first
to prepare for oropharyngeal suction- ing?
a. Apply clean gloves and a mask.
b. Insert the suction device to the back of the throat.
c. Remove the patient's nasal cannula.
d. Connect the tubing to a standard suction catheter. correct answer: a.
Apply clean gloves and a mask.
3. After oropharyngeal suctioning of a patient, the nurse notes
bloody secre- tions in the suction catheter and tubing. What
should the nurse do next?
a. Increase the suction pressure.
b. Provide additional oxygen.
c. Reduce the frequency of oral hygiene.
d. Check the suction catheter for nicks. correct answer: d. Check the suction catheter
for nicks.
4. The nurse is caring for an infant who has been vomiting and is
having difficulty breathing. What actions by the nurse are
,appropriate for suctioning the infant?
a. Place the infant in a supine position.
b. Suction only when a large amount of mucus is present.
c. Suction for only 30 seconds.
d. Compress the bulb syringe after it is placed in the nostril correct answer: a.
Place the infant in a supine position.
5. A patient on mechanical ventilation with an endotracheal tube
requires suc- tioning. A closed in-line catheter is in place. Which
action by the nurse is appropriate?
, a. Use manual ventilation to hyperoxygenate the patient with 100%
oxygen via Ambu bag.
b. Push the catheter and slide the plastic sleeve back when the patient
exhales.
c. Push the catheter in until resistance is felt or the patient coughs.
d. Apply suction for no longer than 30 seconds as you remove the
catheter. correct answer: c. Push the catheter in until resistance is felt or the patient
coughs
6. The nurse is assessing several patients who have returned
from surgery. Which finding most likely indicates a need for
suctioning?
a. Complaint of pain when breathing
b. Cough producing thick yellow mucus
c. Oxygen saturation level of 88%
d. Drowsiness and respiratory rate of 8 correct answer: c. Oxygen saturation level
of 88%
7. A patient with head trauma following a motor vehicle accident is on
mechani- cal ventilation with an endotracheal tube. Which action by
the nurse will reduce the risk for elevations in intracranial pressure
during suctioning?
a. Avoid hyperoxygenating the patient before suctioning.
b. Insert the suction catheter just to the end of the endotracheal
tube.
c. Apply suction while inserting the catheter.
d. Limit suctioning to 2 times with each suctioning procedure. correct
answer: d. Limit suctioning to 2 times with each suctioning procedure.
8. The student nurse is preparing to perform nasotracheal
suctioning on an adult patient wearing a face mask. Which action
by the student should the nursing instructor question?
a. Increasing the oxygen flow rate for the face mask and asking
the patient to deepbreathe slowly before suctioning
