Relias Medical Surgical Telemetry RN A Practice Test

Suctioning is done as you withdraw the catheter, not while you insert it. This limits airway trauma and prevents pushing secretions deeper as the catheter is advanced. As you pull the catheter back, apply suction in short bursts and rotate gently to help bring secretions into the catheter. Keep each suction pass brief—about 10 to 15 seconds—and reassess the patient’s oxygenation between attempts. Continuous suction for a long duration (such as 60 seconds) increases risks of hypoxemia and mucosal injury, and suctioning after the catheter has been removed won’t clear the airway. So, the best technique is to apply suction during withdrawal, with brief, intermittent passes and careful monitoring.