Which of the following is a postoperative risk factor specifically associated with older adults?

A. Lubricating the suction catheter tip with sterile saline is generally not recommended. The catheter tip is usually not lubricated before suctioning. Instead, suctioning should be performed using a dry, sterile catheter to prevent introducing any substances into the airway that could cause irritation or infection.
B. Hyperoxygenating the patient with 100% oxygen before suctioning is a crucial step. This helps to prevent hypoxia during the suctioning procedure, as suctioning can temporarily reduce the oxygen levels in the blood. By providing 100% oxygen for 30 to 60 seconds, the nurse ensures that the patient has an adequate oxygen reserve and reduces the risk of oxygen desaturation during suctioning.
C. Performing chest physiotherapy is not a routine pre-suctioning action and is generally done as part of a separate management strategy for clearing secretions. Chest physiotherapy involves techniques such as percussion, vibration, and postural drainage to help mobilize secretions from the lungs.
D. Instilling normal saline into the airway before suctioning (known as “normal saline lavage”) is not recommended. This practice can actually cause harm, such as increasing the risk of infection, causing bronchospasm, and diluting secretions which may then become more difficult to suction.

A. Rinsing the client's mouth helps to remove oral contaminants, ensuring that the sputum specimen is representative of the respiratory secretions.
B. Obtaining the specimen in the evening is not a specific requirement; the best time to collect the specimen is when the client has the most productive cough.
C. Saving the sputum specimen in a clean container is essential to prevent contamination. However, a sterile container is usually required.
D. Collecting the sputum specimen after a meal might induce coughing but can also contaminate the specimen with food particles.