A nurse is teaching a newly hired LPN about trach care. The nurse should include that the inner cannula should be cleaned with a brush and then dried with a

A. Lint-free pipe cleaner: A lint-free pipe cleaner is ideal for drying the inner cannula because it won’t introduce fibers or debris into the airway. It ensures that the cannula is thoroughly dried without increasing the risk of aspiration or airway irritation from lint. B. The inner cannula does not need to be dried before reinserting it into the outer cannula: Moisture left inside the cannula can promote bacterial growth and lead to infection. Drying the cannula is an essential step to prevent microbial contamination and to maintain patency and safety. C. Q-tip: Q-tips can shed fibers and are not suitable for internal tracheostomy components. Using them may lead to lint being introduced into the airway, increasing the risk of irritation or infection. D. Medical air: Medical air is not used to dry tracheostomy components. It is not practical, and it may not fully dry narrow internal surfaces. Manual drying with a lint-free material is safer and more effective.