The patient is coughing up white mucus after having been intubated for surgery. What action would be most appropriate for the nurse to maintain a patent airway?
a. Administer supplemental oxygen.
b. Place the patient in a supine position.
c. Perform oropharyngeal suctioning.
d. Prepare for endotracheal intubation.
C
In the immediate postoperative period, patients frequently have pulmonary secretions from me-chanical ventilation during surgery. The nurse suctions the patient as necessary to help remove the secretions from the airway. Supplemental oxygen is ineffective therapy to clear an airway. The supine position is contraindicated for patients in the immediate postoperative period unless the patient is hypotensive. The nurse avoids preparing for endotracheal intubation unless the patient develops respiratory failure.
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