The nurse is supervising an LPN performing patient care. Follow up would be required if the LPN dons clean gloves on the dominant hand before trach suctioning.

• A. The LPN dons clean gloves on the dominant hand before trach suctioning.
• B. The LPN uses sterile gloves for suctioning.
• C. The LPN performs hand hygiene before contact with the client.
• D. The LPN uses PPE during suctioning as needed.

Answer: (A)

Trach suctioning requires sterile technique because the airway interior is a sterile site. To protect the patient, you perform hand hygiene and then don sterile gloves before handling the suction catheter and equipment, maintaining sterility throughout the procedure. Dons clean gloves on only the dominant hand would break the sterile barrier and raise the risk of introducing infection into the trachea, which is why that practice would need follow-up and correction. In contrast, using sterile gloves for suctioning (and applying PPE as needed, with proper hand hygiene) aligns with proper procedure and patient safety.