Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:
A Nursing Process Approach, 3rd edition

Name Date

Unit Position

Instructor/Evaluator: Position

SKILL 14-7

Inserting an Oropharyngeal Airway

Goal:The patient sustains a patent airway. Comments

1. Bring necessary equipment to the bedside stand or overbed
   table.


2. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.


3. Identify the patient.


4. Close curtains around bed and close the door to the room,
   if possible.


5. Explain to the patient what you are going to do and the
   reason for doing it, even though the patient does not
   appear to be alert.


6. Put on disposable gloves; put on goggles or face shield, as
   indicated.


7. Measure the oropharyngeal airway for correct size.
   Measure the oropharyngeal airway by holding the airway
   on the side of the patient’s face. The airway should reach
   from the opening of the mouth to the back angle of the
   jaw.
   8.Check mouth for any loose teeth, dentures, or other
   foreign material. Remove dentures or material if
   present.


8. Position patient in semi-Fowler’s position.


9. Suction patient, if necessary.


10. Open patient’s mouth by using your thumb and index fin-
    ger to gently pry teeth apart. Insert the airway with the
    curved tip pointing up toward the roof of the mouth.


11. Slide the airway across the tongue to the back of the mouth.
    Rotate the airway 180 degrees as it passes the uvula. The tip
    should point down and the curvature should follow the con-
    tour of the roof of the mouth. A flashlight can be used to
    confirm the position of the airway with the curve fitting
    over the tongue.


12. Ensure accurate placement and adequate ventilation by
    auscultating breath sounds.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice