PROVIDING TRACHEOSTOMY CARE

Performance Evaluation
Name: Course/Group No.:
Date Covered: Health Agency:

Instruction: Give the appropriate rating for each item based on the given numerical rating.
Numerical Rating Quantitative Description
Consistently displays behavior even without guidance and
5 Outstanding
supervision
Carries out expected behavior with minimal guidance and
4 Very Satisfactory
supervision
Exhibits behavior in a moderately consistent manner with
3 Satisfactory
frequent guidance and supervision
Carries out expected behavior with close guidance and
2 Needs Improvement
supervision
Doesn’t carry out expected behavior even under close guidance
1 Unsatisfactory
and supervision

NURSING SKILLS 5 4 3 2 1
Bring necessary equipment to the bedside stand or overbed table.
Carefully open the package with the new disposable inner cannula,
taking care not to contaminate the cannula or the inside of the
1. package. Carefully open the package with the sterile cotton-tipped
applicators, taking care not to contaminate them. Open sterile cup
or basin and fill 0.5 inch deep with saline. Open the plastic
disposable bag and place within reach on work surface.
2. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.
3. Identify the patient.
Close curtains around bed and close the door to the room, if
4.
possible.
Determine the need for tracheostomy care. Assess patient’s pain
5.
and administer pain medication, if indicated.
Explain what you are going to do and the reason to the patient,
even if the patient does not appear to be alert. Reassure the
6.
patient you will interrupt procedure if he or she indicates
respiratory difficulty.
Adjust bed to comfortable working position, usually elbow height
of the caregiver. Lower side rail closest to you. If the patient is
conscious, place him or her in a semi-Fowler’s position. If patient is
7.
unconscious, place him or her in the lateral position, facing you.
Move the overbed table close to your work area and raise to waist
height. Place a trash receptacle within easy reach of work area.
 Put on face shield or goggles and mask. Suction tracheostomy, if
necessary. If tracheostomy has just been suctioned, remove soiled
8.
site dressing and discard before removal of gloves used to perform
suctioning.
Cleaning the Tracheostomy:
Carefully open the package with the new disposable inner cannula,
taking care not to contaminate the cannula or the inside of the
9. package. Carefully open the package with the sterile cotton-tipped
applicators, taking care not to contaminate them. Open sterile cup
or basin and fill 0.5 inch deep with saline. Open the plastic
disposable bag and place within reach on work surface.
10. Put on disposable gloves.
Remove the oxygen source if one is present. Stabilize the outer
cannula and faceplate of the tracheostomy with your
nondominant hand. Grasp the locking mechanism of the inner
11. cannula with your dominant hand. Press the tabs and release lock.
Gently remove inner cannula and place in disposal bag. If not
already removed, remove site dressing and dispose of it in the
trash.
Discard gloves and put on sterile gloves. Pick up the new inner
cannula with your dominant hand, stabilize the faceplate with your
12.
nondominant hand, and gently insert the new inner cannula into
the outer cannula. Press the tabs to allow the lock to grab
Applying Clean Dressing and Holder
Remove oxygen source, if necessary. Dip cotton-tipped applicator
13. or gauze sponge in cup or basin with sterile saline and clean stoma
under faceplate. Use each applicator or sponge only once, moving
from stoma site outward.
Pat skin gently with dry 4 4 gauze sponge.
Slide commercially prepared tracheostomy dressing or prefolded
non-cotton-filled 4 4-inch dressing under the faceplate.
Change the tracheostomy holder:
a. Obtain the assistance of a second individual to hold the
tracheostomy tube in place while the old collar is removed and the
new collar is placed. b. Open the package for the new
tracheostomy collar.
c. Both nurses should put on clean gloves.
d. One nurse holds the faceplate while the other pulls up the
Velcro tabs. Gently remove the collar.
e. The first nurse continues to hold the tracheostomy faceplate.
f. The other nurse places the collar around the patient’s neck and
inserts first one tab, then the other, into the openings on the
 faceplate and secures the Velcro tabs on the tracheostomy holder.
g. Check the fit of the tracheostomy collar. You should be able to
fit one finger between the neck and the collar. Check to make sure
that the patient can flex neck comfortably. Reapply oxygen source,
if necessary
Remove gloves. Assist patient to a comfortable position. Raise the
bed rail and place the bed in the lowest position.
Remove face shield or goggles and mask. Remove additional PPE, if
used. Perform hand hygiene.
Reassess patient’s respiratory status, including respiratory rate,
effort, oxygen saturation, and lung sounds.
TOTAL
Formula For Grading:

Total Score
---------------- X 50 + 50
Perfect Score

Student’s Signature