Tracheostomy Teaching 2516
Instructed patient how can I prevent infections. Keep your mouth clean. Saliva and mucus contain germs that cause infection if they enter your airway. Brush your teeth twice a day. Suction your mouth as needed. Use a mouth wash twice a day or as directed. Take deep breaths and cough 10 times each hour. This will decrease your risk for a lung infection. Take a deep breath and hold it for as long as you can. Let the air out and then cough strongly. Deep breaths help open your airway. You may be given an incentive spirometer to help you take deep breaths. Put the plastic piece in your mouth and take a slow, deep breath, then let the air out and cough. Repeat these steps 10 times every hour.
Reviewed December 2019
Reviewed for general reference only. Adapt to your patient, agency policy, and scope of practice.
Related teachings
Tracheostomy Teaching 448Instructed patient to secure the new ties to the tracheostomy tube flanges before removing the old ones. Insert your little finger between the tie tapes and your patient's neck to check the fit and ensure his comfort.Tracheostomy Teaching 1726Instructed caregiver to call patient's doctor if patient have: fever or chills, redness, swelling, or pain that is getting worse. Bleeding or drainage from the hole.Tracheostomy Teaching 1811Instructed instructed call your doctor if you notice if around your stoma any redness, swelling, irritation, bleeding, green
discharge or food.Tracheostomy Teaching 452Instructed patient Don't cut gauze and place it under the tracheostomy tube flanges; inhalation could draw fibers into the patient\'s trachea. Use a manufactured split sponge.