Courses

INTENDED AUDIENCE This activity was developed for nurses in areas of practice other than respiratory nursing who may be called upon to provide care to patients with a tracheostomy tube, or who may be transferring to that specialty. COMMERCIAL SUPPORT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT No commercial support was provided for the development of this activity. STATEMENT OF NEED The patient with a tracheostomy tube has many care needs. Most important is the maintenance of airway patency. Other needs are preventing infection of either the airway or the stoma, providing some form of effective communication, and providing emotional support. To prevent infection, promote stoma health, and help maintain airway patency, the nurse must be familiar with the function and components of a tracheostomy tube, and know how to provide routine tracheostomy care. METHOD OF PARTICIPATION To complete this activity and obtain CE credit, you must do the following: - Read this Course Introduction/ Attestation section in its entirety. - Read the course material. - Complete the Post Test with a score of 80% or more. - Submit the online activity evaluation form. ACCREDITATION Medcom/Trainex is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation* Medcom/Trainex is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing (provider number CEP 9888), and the Florida Board of Nursing (provider number 50-1285). *Accreditation refers to recognition of educational activities only and does not imply Commission on Accreditation approval or endorsement of any product. CREDIT DESIGNATION Medcom, Inc. designates this educational activity for 1 contact hour of continuing nursing education credit OVERVIEW This program will focus on the essentials of direct airway care. The material is organized around the following categories: - Introduction - Cleaning the Cannula - Caring for the Stoma - Changing Tracheostomy Ties - Changing the Tracheostomy Tube - Airway Cuff Management - Conclusion LEARNING OBJECTIVES After completing this course, the learner should be able to: - Describe the function of a tracheostomy tube - Explain the procedure for cleaning and changing the inner cannula - Describe care for the stoma - Describe the procedure for changing a tracheostomy tube - Identify complications associated with over-inflation of a soft cuff - Describe the preferred procedure for maintaining adequate cuff pressure AUTHOR / REVIEWERS This educational activity was wholly developed, written, and produced by Medcom, Inc., G. Rand Rodriguez, editor. Robert Goodrow, BS, RRT-NPS served as subject matter expert in review of the content, and performed a content validation review. Marguerite Voorhees, RN, CNS, CPHQ, CPHRM, served as nurse planner. PLANNER / AUTHOR DISCLOSURE In accordance with ANCC Standards, parallel documents from other accrediting bodies, and Medcom, Inc. policy, the learner is hereby informed that the planners and staff of Medcom, Inc., and the content validation reviewer(s) involved with this activity have reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. Furthermore, there is no discussion in this activity about the use of products for non FDA-approved indications. UNAPPROVED USE DISCLOSURE Medcom, Inc. requires authors and content validation reviewers to disclose to the learner when products or procedures being discussed are off-label, unlabeled, experimental, and/or investigational (not FDA approved); and any limitations on the information that is presented, such as data that are preliminary or that represent ongoing research, interim analyses, and/or unsupported opinion. Authors of this activity may present information about pharmaceutical agents that is outside of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved labeling. This information is intended solely for continuing medical education and is not intended to promote off-label use of these medications. If you have questions, contact the medical affairs department of the manufacturer for the most recent prescribing information. DISCLAIMER As in all educational activities, we encourage the practitioners to use their own judgment in treating and addressing the needs of each individual patient, taking into account the patient's unique clinical situation. Medcom disclaims any liability and/or loss resulting from the information contained in this activity. The learner specifically agrees to indemnify and hold Medcom, the creators, producers, and distributors of this activity harmless against any and all claims or liabilities arising out of the use of any information provided in this activity by the learner, or by anyone directly or indirectly obtaining such information through the learner.