What is aspiration How can the NA help prevent aspiration during oral care of unconscious residents?

What's the process of oral care for an unconscious patient?

Learn the answer to this CNA question.

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What's the process of oral care for an unconscious patient?

1. Gather supplies. 2. Check identification bracelet or name tag. 3. Introduce self, tell patient what you are going to do, provide privacy. 4. Wash hands, put on gloves. 5. Raise bed to comfortable height to perform oral care and raise head of bed 30 degrees. 6. Place a towel under patient's head and turn patient's head toward you. 7. With one hand, use a tongue depressor to hold patient's mouth open. With other hand, clean teeth, gums, and tongue. 8. Wipe or suction secretions from patient's mouth. 9. Reposition patient, lower bed, remove gloves, and wash hands.

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Time to Read: About 2 minutes

This information explains what you can do to prevent aspiration when you’re eating, drinking, or tube feeding.

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About Aspiration

Aspiration is when food or liquid goes into your airway instead of your esophagus. Your esophagus is the tube that carries food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Aspiration can happen when you’re eating, drinking, or tube feeding. It can also happen when you’re vomiting (throwing up) or when you have heartburn.

You may be at risk of aspiration if you have trouble swallowing. This is because food or liquid can get stuck in the back of your throat and go into your airway. Aspiration can lead to pneumonia, respiratory infections (infections in your nose, throat, or lungs), and other health problems.

Signs of aspiration

Signs of aspiration include:

  • Coughing
  • Choking
  • Gagging
  • Throat clearing
  • Vomiting

You and your caregiver should watch for these signs before, during, and after you eat, drink, or tube feed.

If you have any of these signs, stop eating, drinking, or tube feeding. Call your healthcare provider right away.

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Preventing Aspiration

Follow these guidelines to prevent aspiration when you’re eating and drinking by mouth:

  • Avoid distractions when you’re eating and drinking, such as talking on the phone or watching TV.
  • Cut your food into small, bite-sized pieces. Always chew your food well before swallowing.
  • Eat and drink slowly.
  • Sit up straight when eating or drinking, if you can.
  • If you’re eating or drinking in bed, use a wedge pillow to lift yourself up. You can buy a wedge pillow online or at your local surgical supply store.
  • Stay in an upright position (at least 45 degrees) for at least 1 hour after you eat or drink (see Figure 1).

What is aspiration How can the NA help prevent aspiration during oral care of unconscious residents?

Figure 1. Sitting up at a 45-degree angle

  • If possible, always keep the head of your bed elevated using a wedge pillow.

Follow these guidelines to prevent aspiration if you’re tube feeding:

  • Sit up straight when tube feeding, if you can.
  • If you’re getting your tube feeding in bed, use a wedge pillow to lift yourself up. You can buy a wedge pillow online or at your local surgical supply store.
  • Stay in an upright position (at least 45 degrees) for at least 1 hour after you finish your tube feeding (see Figure 1).
  • If possible, always keep the head of your bed elevated using a wedge pillow.
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Pacing Your Feedings

To help prevent aspiration, it’s important to pace your feedings. Follow the guidelines below during your feedings to make sure you’re not taking in more than you can digest:

  • If you’re tube feeding using the bolus method, don’t infuse more than 360 milliliters (mL) of formula per feeding. Infuse each bolus feeding over at least 15 minutes.
  • If you’re tube feeding using the gravity method, don’t infuse more than 480 mL of formula per feeding. Infuse each gravity feeding over at least 30 minutes.
  • If you’re tube feeding into your small intestine (duodenum or jejunum), don’t infuse formula faster than 150 mL per hour through your feeding pump.

If you have any questions, call your Clinical Dietitian Nutritionist at 212-639-7312 or Nutrition Advanced Practice Provider (APP) at 212-639-6984.

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When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider

Contact your healthcare provider if you have any of the following:

  • Any signs of aspiration, such as coughing or gagging
  • A fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or higher
  • Trouble breathing
  • Wheezing
  • Painful breathing
  • A cough with mucus

If you’re having problems breathing or any other emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room right away.

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How can nursing assistant help prevent aspiration during oral care of residents who are unconscious?

Turn the resident's head to one side to prevent aspiration during the procedure. Put a waterproof pad and towel on the pillow underneath the resident's chin. His head should be turned to one side to allow excess fluid to drain out.

What is the best way to prevent aspiration when performing mouth care on residents who are unconscious?

An unconscious patient is placed in the side-lying position when mouth care is provided because this position prevents pooling of secretions at the back of the oral cavity, thereby reducing the risk of aspiration.

Which of the following is an appropriate way for an NA to refer to a resident's weakened side when assisting with dressing?

Which of the following is an appropriate way for an NA to refer to a resident's weakened side when assisting with dressing? Involved side.

What is an effective way for an NA to help prevent dehydration?

Hartman's NA Care LTC 3rd Ed. Chapter 1 - 11.