A nurse is suctioning a patient with a mechanical ventilator. Before suctioning, the nurse
Explanation
•Suctioning the patient's ET tube lowers the partial pressure of arterial oxygen, which can cause a cardiac arrhythmia, such as bradycardia.
•Hyperoxygenating the patient with 100% oxygen for 30-60 seconds prior to suctioning helps prevent arrhythmias and oxygen desaturation during the procedure.
•The remaining answer choices are not associated with suctioning.