Question

The nurse is working with a nursing assistant to care for a patient with a new tracheostomy. Which tasks may the nurse delegate to the assistant? ( Select all that apply.)

	a.	Changing the Velcro or twill ties used to secure the tracheostomy
	b.	Teaching the patient how to remove and clean the inner cannula
	c.	Helping to reassure the patient before, during, and after suctioning
	d.	Assessing need for suctioning of the oropharynx or tracheostomy
	e.	Transporting sputum specimens to the lab for culture and sensitivity testing
	f.	Obtaining masks, gloves, and suction supplies from the utility room

Answer 1

The nurse may delegate to the assistant obtaining masks, gloves, and suction supplies from the utility room, transporting sputum specimens to the lab for culture and sensitivity testing, teaching the patient how to remove and clean the inner cannula (It's an easy process but the nurse must make sure that the nursing assistant has a proper knowledge of how a tracheostomy functions otherwise the nurse should do the necessary teaching with the patient), helping to reassure the patient before, during, and after suctioning (just assessing, otherwise it is the prime duty of the nurse to monitor the whole procedure closely and carefully

Changing the Velcro or twill ties used to secure the tracheostomy should be done by the nurse herself, though she can take help from the nursing assistant to hold the tube while the nurse changes the velcro.