ST.

ANTHONY COLLEGE OF ROXAS CITY

San Roque Extension, Roxas City

College of Nursing

LEVEL III

Suctioning

Submitted by:

JAY B. VILLASOTO
BSN III

Submitted to:

NITA AMMOGAO,R.N.
Clinical Instructor
 Oropharyngeal and/or Nasopharyngeal Suction

Suctioning

Definition:

It is a method of aspirating mucus or other secretions and/or fluids from the nose,mouth, and pharynx,
using a suction catheter attached to a suction apparatus.

Purpose:

To maintain patent airway on patient whose swallowing reflex is limited as in cases of:

a. A patient recovering from anesthesia

b. An unconscious patient
c. A critically ill patient

General Considerations

1. Suction catheter maybe inserted through the nostril if the mouth cannot be opened or access
through the teeth is impossible.
2. Coughing is encouraged while the catheter is being inserted in order to expel mucus blocking
the bronchi.
3. Switch off the suction or pinch the suction catheterr when inserting it.
4. Patient should be given a chance to breathe in between suctioning to avoid creating oxygen
deficit. Limit period of suctioning at 20 seconds interval.

Equipments/Materials.

Suction Machine

Catheter

Bottle with tap water

Tongue depresser PRN

Tissue paper

Procedure

Action Rationale
1. Assemble equipment and take to the Good organization of work will preven
bedside unnecessary loss of time and energy
2. Check suction machine’s working This prevents unnecessary discomfort to patient.
condition by connecting catheter and test
by suctioning water from a clean bottle
3. Positioning: To facilitate drainage of secretion, in a most
a. Unconscious patients: head flat on comfortable manner.
one side
b. Alert and conscious patients: semi-
fowler’s or sitting position with head
 tilted forward.
4. Clean nares of mucus if suctioning is
through the nose.
5. Grasp catheter about 6 inches from the
tip and gently pass it into the mouth and
down into the throat with the suction
switched off
6. Apply suction intermittently while
moving the catheter around gently to
aspirate mucus using a Y connector or Y-
type suction catheter, while doing so
place finger over the control bent
intermittently.
7. Continue suctioning until no more
secretions can be aspirated
8. Withdraw the catheter, rinse and place in
a bottle with antiseptic solution. Label
the bottle oral/nasal
9. Switch off the suction apparatus, place
connecting tube neatly out of the way,
and make patient comfortable
10. Empty suction collection bottle
frequently
To get rid of obstacle hence facilitate the
suctioning.
To eliminate sucking of mucosal lining.
To minimize discomfort for the patient
To maximize the opportunity for carrying out the
purposes of suctioning and to do it efficiently at
the given opportunity; and to make it worth the
discomfort experienced by the patient at the
given moment.
To minimize the possibility of harboring
microorganisms. This facilitates proper
identification or recognition of the equipment by
all the members of the health team.
Every procedure ends with clearing up the
bedside, and keeping patient comfortable
To eliminate possible area for harboring of
microorganisms, and prevent from being sucked
into the apparatus.