A nurse is assessing equipment needs in order to perform tracheostomy suctioning on a client. Which of the following pieces of equipment does the nurse gather for the procedure?

Rationale: A. Yankauer catheter: A Yankauer catheter is a rigid suction device designed for clearing oral secretions, primarily in the mouth and pharynx. It is not suitable for tracheostomy suctioning because it cannot safely reach into the trachea and may cause trauma if used intratracheally. Tracheostomy suctioning requires a flexible, sterile suction catheter. B. Sterile water: Sterile water or sterile saline is used to flush the suction catheter before and after tracheostomy suctioning. It helps maintain catheter patency and clears secretions, reducing the risk of obstruction during the procedure. Using sterile solutions also prevents introducing pathogens into the airway, which is critical for infection prevention. C. Nasal cannula: A nasal cannula delivers supplemental oxygen but is not used for the suctioning procedure itself. While oxygen may be administered before or after suctioning to prevent hypoxia, it is not considered essential equipment for performing the suctioning procedure. D. Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is used to monitor oxygen saturation and assess the client’s response to suctioning. Although important for patient safety, it is not a piece of equipment required to perform the suctioning procedure; rather, it serves as a monitoring device to guide intervention.