NUR1025C Lab Quiz #3 – Oral Suctioning
1. The nurse is going to use a bulb syringe to clear mucus from a newborn’s nose and mouth. What is the
nurse’s first action?
a. Depress the bulb before inserting the syringe tip into the mouth.
b. Place the tip in the nose and squeeze the bulb gently.
c. Suction secretions from the nose before the mouth.
d. Insert the tip into the back of the mouth to reach mucus.
The bulb is depressed, and then the tip is inserted into the mouth and then the nose. The depression is slowly
released, creating the suction.
2. The preceptor is working with a new nurse to suction a patient through his new tracheostomy. Which
actions by the new nurse indicate need for additional teaching about the procedure? (Select all that apply.)
a. The suction is not applied to the catheter until it is being withdrawn.
b. The suction catheter is twirled side to side as it is being withdrawn.
c. The patient’s oxygen is reapplied between suction attempts.
d. The patient is placed in the supine position prior to suctioning.
e. Water-soluble lubricant is applied to the suction catheter before insertion.
f. Suction is applied continuously as the catheter is withdrawn.
The head of the patient's bed should be elevated prior to suctioning to facilitate coughing out secretions.
Suction is always applied intermittently as the catheter is withdrawn. Water-soluble lubricant is used when
suctioning the nares but not a tracheostomy because the secretions negate the need for additional lubrication.
3. The nurse is using a closed suction device. Which patient will be most appropriate for this suctioning
method?
a. A 24-year-old with acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation
b. A 5-year-old with an asthma attack following severe allergies
c. A 5-year-old with excessive drooling from epiglottitis
d. A 24-year-old with a right pneumothorax following a motor vehicle accident
Closed suctioning is most often used on patients who require invasive mechanical ventilation to support their
respiratory efforts because it permits continuous delivery of oxygen while suction is performed and reduces
the risk of oxygen desaturation. In this case, the acute respiratory distress syndrome requires mechanical
ventilation. In the presence of epiglottitis, croup, laryngospasm, or irritable airway, the entrance of a suction
catheter via the nasal route causes intractable coughing, hypoxemia, and severe bronchospasm, necessitating
emergency intubation or tracheostomy. The 5-year-old child with asthma would benefit from an inhaler. A
chest tube is needed for the pneumothorax.
4. The nurse is suctioning a patient with a tracheostomy tube. Which action will the nurse take?
a. Liberally lubricate the end of the suction catheter with a water-soluble solution.
b. Apply suction while gently rotating and inserting the catheter.
c. Set suction regulator at 150 to 200 mm Hg.
d. Limit the length of suctioning to 10 seconds.
Suctioning passes should be limited to 10 seconds to avoid hypoxemia. Suction for a tracheostomy should be
set at 100 to 150 mm Hg. Excessive lubrication can clog the catheter or occlude the airway; lubricant is not
necessary for oropharyngeal or artificial airway (tracheostomy) suctioning. Suction should never be applied on
insertion.
5. A nurse is preparing a patient for nasotracheal suctioning. In which order will the nurse perform the steps,
beginning with the first step?
1. The nurse is going to use a bulb syringe to clear mucus from a newborn’s nose and mouth. What is the
nurse’s first action?
a. Depress the bulb before inserting the syringe tip into the mouth.
b. Place the tip in the nose and squeeze the bulb gently.
c. Suction secretions from the nose before the mouth.
d. Insert the tip into the back of the mouth to reach mucus.
The bulb is depressed, and then the tip is inserted into the mouth and then the nose. The depression is slowly
released, creating the suction.
2. The preceptor is working with a new nurse to suction a patient through his new tracheostomy. Which
actions by the new nurse indicate need for additional teaching about the procedure? (Select all that apply.)
a. The suction is not applied to the catheter until it is being withdrawn.
b. The suction catheter is twirled side to side as it is being withdrawn.
c. The patient’s oxygen is reapplied between suction attempts.
d. The patient is placed in the supine position prior to suctioning.
e. Water-soluble lubricant is applied to the suction catheter before insertion.
f. Suction is applied continuously as the catheter is withdrawn.
The head of the patient's bed should be elevated prior to suctioning to facilitate coughing out secretions.
Suction is always applied intermittently as the catheter is withdrawn. Water-soluble lubricant is used when
suctioning the nares but not a tracheostomy because the secretions negate the need for additional lubrication.
3. The nurse is using a closed suction device. Which patient will be most appropriate for this suctioning
method?
a. A 24-year-old with acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation
b. A 5-year-old with an asthma attack following severe allergies
c. A 5-year-old with excessive drooling from epiglottitis
d. A 24-year-old with a right pneumothorax following a motor vehicle accident
Closed suctioning is most often used on patients who require invasive mechanical ventilation to support their
respiratory efforts because it permits continuous delivery of oxygen while suction is performed and reduces
the risk of oxygen desaturation. In this case, the acute respiratory distress syndrome requires mechanical
ventilation. In the presence of epiglottitis, croup, laryngospasm, or irritable airway, the entrance of a suction
catheter via the nasal route causes intractable coughing, hypoxemia, and severe bronchospasm, necessitating
emergency intubation or tracheostomy. The 5-year-old child with asthma would benefit from an inhaler. A
chest tube is needed for the pneumothorax.
4. The nurse is suctioning a patient with a tracheostomy tube. Which action will the nurse take?
a. Liberally lubricate the end of the suction catheter with a water-soluble solution.
b. Apply suction while gently rotating and inserting the catheter.
c. Set suction regulator at 150 to 200 mm Hg.
d. Limit the length of suctioning to 10 seconds.
Suctioning passes should be limited to 10 seconds to avoid hypoxemia. Suction for a tracheostomy should be
set at 100 to 150 mm Hg. Excessive lubrication can clog the catheter or occlude the airway; lubricant is not
necessary for oropharyngeal or artificial airway (tracheostomy) suctioning. Suction should never be applied on
insertion.
5. A nurse is preparing a patient for nasotracheal suctioning. In which order will the nurse perform the steps,
beginning with the first step?
