Basic Nursing SkillsQuestion 87 of 200

Oral care for an unconscious resident requires:

a.Pouring water into the mouth and letting it drain
b.Side-lying or head-turned position, suction available or oral swabs with minimal moisture, mouth propped open with padded tongue blade, no liquids that could be aspirated
c.Brushing vigorously with the resident supine
d.Skipping oral care to avoid aspiration

Explanation

Unconscious oral care: position side-lying or with head turned to allow drainage, use oral swabs lightly moistened (chlorhexidine per protocol), keep mouth open with a padded device, have suction ready, never pour liquids that could be aspirated. Supine brushing (c) and pouring fluids (a) cause aspiration pneumonia; skipping care (d) leads to dry mucosa, ulcers, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Oral hygiene every 2-4 hours is standard.

Law Reference: Fundamentals; oral care

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