First Trache Patient

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2005

Have someone who has been taking care of the patient already go with you the first time and ask what he/she did and be there with you as you do the care and suctioning for the first time. You shouldn't have to go blindly into a situation where you're not competent, just because your license allows you too.

But it will all come back to you and you'll be confident and skilled in no time flat.

I could take care of a trached patient blindfolded. My pet peeve is in report the nurses say "I never had to suction him, he's gurgly but he clears himself real well". This happens all the time. I usually make a beeline to the room and suction the patient, and usually get gobs and gobs of retained sputum. Just because someone coughs up sputum, or you walk into the room and they have sputum on their chest, doesn't mean they don't need suctioning. Rarely do I have a trach patient I don't suction at least once, just for my own peace of mind. My moto, if you hear adventitious sounds, suction them.

Good luck!

BeachNurse · Mar 28, 2005

Have someone who has been taking care of the patient already go with you the first time and ask what he/she did and be there with you as you do the care and suctioning for the first time. You shouldn't have to go blindly into a situation where you're not competent, just because your license allows you too.
But it will all come back to you and you'll be confident and skilled in no time flat.
I could take care of a trached patient blindfolded. My pet peeve is in report the nurses say "I never had to suction him, he's gurgly but he clears himself real well". This happens all the time. I usually make a beeline to the room and suction the patient, and usually get gobs and gobs of retained sputum. Just because someone coughs up sputum, or you walk into the room and they have sputum on their chest, doesn't mean they don't need suctioning. Rarely do I have a trach patient I don't suction at least once, just for my own peace of mind. My moto, if you hear adventitious sounds, suction them.
Good luck!

Good advice from Tweety! I do home health twice a month with a pt. who has a trach and G-tube. I couldn't imagine not suctioning him. The only time I don't have to is if he is sleeping long and hard. It also makes me mad when a pt. has not been suctioned. They key with a trach patient is not to feel afraid and just keep doing it. Soon it will come easy. Try to stay calm the first few times because some pt.s can sense your nervousness. Good luck!