A nurse is caring for a patient immediately following endotracheal intubation.

Which of the following actions should the nurse prioritize to assess the patient for complications?

Choice A rationale
Implementing ventilator-weaning protocols is a crucial intervention in the care plan for a patient on a ventilator to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. These protocols aim to minimize the patient’s exposure to mechanical ventilation, which is a significant risk factor for developing ventilator-associated pneumonia. By systematically reducing the level of ventilatory support, these protocols facilitate the earliest possible liberation from mechanical ventilation, thereby reducing the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Choice B rationale
Providing frequent oral care is another essential intervention in preventing ventilator- associated pneumonia. Oral health can quickly deteriorate in mechanically ventilated patients, leading to an increased risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Regular oral care, including the use of antiseptics, can help reduce the number of potential respiratory pathogens in the oral cavity and prevent their aspiration into the lower respiratory tract.
Choice C rationale
Suctioning the patient every hour is not typically recommended as a standard intervention to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. Over-suctioning can lead to trauma and inflammation in the airway, potentially increasing the risk of infection. Suctioning should be performed based on the patient’s needs and clinical signs, rather than on a fixed schedule.
Choice D rationale
Positioning the patient in a semi-upright position (30 to 45 degrees), rather than a prone position, is recommended to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. This position helps to reduce the risk of aspiration, which is a major risk factor for ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Choice E rationale
Avoiding suctioning the patient is not a recommended strategy for preventing ventilator- associated pneumonia. Suctioning is necessary to clear secretions from the airway, and its omission could potentially increase the risk of infection. However, as mentioned earlier, suctioning should be performed based on the patient’s needs and clinical signs, rather than on a fixed schedule.

Choice A rationale
A never event refers to a particularly shocking medical error (such as wrong-site surgery) that should never occur. A surgical site infection, while unfortunate, does not fall into this category.
Choice B rationale
A near miss refers to an event that could have had adverse consequences but did not, either by chance or timely intervention. In this case, the client did experience an adverse consequence (the infection), so this term does not apply.
Choice C rationale
An adverse event is an injury caused by medical management rather than the underlying disease. In this case, the surgical site infection that developed after the knee replacement surgery can be considered an adverse event.
Choice D rationale
A sentinel event is a specific type of unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury. While serious, a surgical site infection requiring prolonged antibiotic therapy and wound care does not typically fall into this category.