suctioning the intubated patient...1 nurse/RT or 2?

[kessadawn]

i am a picu rn, and i know that things are hugely different in the icu world of adults (no pun intended;)), but i'd like your input please.

recently i have been told by some of our traveling rns that in some facilities, you suction etts by yourself. not trachs, not with inline suction set-ups, good old fashioned, pop em off and bag suctioning. first of all, how in the world do you remain sterile? what if the patient is on very high levels of vent support? i just cannot fathom how this is even a remotely safe thing to do. what if your patient crumps, or plugs the ett?

so, what are your opinions/experiences? the whole idea just freaks me out, personally. what do you think?

[climberrn]

Suctioning not a sterile procedure? Really? That's definitely not how I learned it and not how I practice either.

[CactusFlower]

I just posted a thread asking if it is current practice not to suction. I have been lectured extensively by the RT's at my current hospital that current practice is not to suction, much less break the circuit.

I suction, when needed all the time. I'll use the closed system if it's appropriate, I can also suction by myself, breaking the circuit and keeping sterile. I cannot imagine not suctioning when needed. I do not do this act "routinely" and feel at this point I don't need too much from them (the RT's) in the way of caring for my ventilator patients.