[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) › Procedures # Procedures Urinary and nasogastric tubes, wound care, ostomies, oxygen, airway suctioning and specimen collection, step by step. 21 pages ## Procedure - [**Airway clearance: incentive spirometry, deep breathing, coughing and oscillating devices** Slow deep breaths, effective coughing and simple devices open the small airways and move mucus…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/airway-clearance-incentive-spirometry-deep-breathing-coughing-and-oscillating-de/) - [**Airway suctioning: oral, nasal and artificial airways** Suction only when needed: pre-oxygenate, go in without suction, suction on the way out, and keep…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/airway-suctioning-oral-nasal-and-artificial-airways/) - [**Blood cultures: technique that avoids contamination** Take them before antibiotics, at least two sets from separate venipunctures, on disinfected, dry…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/blood-cultures-technique-that-avoids-contamination/) - [**Chest tube: assisting insertion, the drainage system and care** A tube drains air, blood or fluid from the pleural space into a closed system that must stay…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/chest-tube-assisting-insertion-the-drainage-system-and-care/) - [**Compression and elastic bandaging** Bandages and stockings squeeze the limb to push blood back up the veins and reduce swelling…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/compression-and-elastic-bandaging/) - [**Eye and ear irrigation** A gentle stream of liquid flushes chemicals or particles from the eye, or wax from the ear…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/eye-and-ear-irrigation/) - [**Indwelling catheter care and removal** The catheter stays a closed system with urine flowing downhill, and it comes out as soon as it…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/indwelling-catheter-care-and-removal/) - [**Nasogastric tube: insertion and checking its position** The tube goes through the nose into the stomach; its position is confirmed before use, because a…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/nasogastric-tube-insertion-and-checking-its-position/) - [**Negative-pressure wound therapy** A sealed foam dressing connected to a vacuum pump removes fluid and draws the wound edges…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/negative-pressure-wound-therapy/) - [**Ostomy care: changing the pouch and assessing the stoma** Measure the stoma, cut the barrier just larger, and check that the stoma stays pink, moist and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/ostomy-care-changing-the-pouch-and-assessing-the-stoma/) - [**Oxygen therapy: devices, flows and safety** Oxygen is a medicine: give it with the ordered device and flow, toward a target saturation, and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/oxygen-therapy-devices-flows-and-safety/) - [**Recording a 12-lead ECG** Ten electrodes on the limbs and chest record the heart's electrical activity; exact positions…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/recording-a-12-lead-ecg/) - [**Removing sutures and staples** With an order and a well-closed wound, sutures or staples are removed alternately and the line…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/removing-sutures-and-staples/) - [**Specimen collection: urine, stool, sputum and swabs** A poorly taken specimen gives a false result: collect it at the right time, uncontaminated…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/specimen-collection-urine-stool-sputum-and-swabs/) - [**Suprapubic catheters, external catheters and catheter irrigation** Other ways to drain urine: a sheath over the penis, a catheter through the lower abdomen, and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/suprapubic-catheters-external-catheters-and-catheter-irrigation/) - [**Surgical wound drains: emptying, measuring and care** A drain removes blood and fluid that build up after surgery; the nurse empties it, keeps the…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/surgical-wound-drains-emptying-measuring-and-care/) - [**Tracheostomy care** Clean the stoma and inner cannula, change the dressing and the ties with two people, and always…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/tracheostomy-care/) - [**Urinary catheterization** A sterile catheter is passed through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine, only for a…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/urinary-catheterization/) - [**Venipuncture: drawing blood samples** Identify the patient properly, choose a suitable vein, disinfect and let it dry, and fill the…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/venipuncture-drawing-blood-samples/) - [**Wound care and dressings: cleaning and choosing a dressing** The wound is cleaned from cleanest to dirtiest and dressed with something that keeps it moist…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/wound-care-and-dressings-cleaning-and-choosing-a-dressing/) ## Assessment - [**Wound assessment: bed, edges, exudate and signs of infection** At every dressing change the wound is assessed and recorded the same way, to tell whether it is…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/wound-assessment-bed-edges-exudate-and-signs-of-infection/) ## A to Z - [A](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/a/) - [B](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/b/) - [C](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/c/) - [D](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/d/) - [E](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/e/) - [F](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/f/) - [G](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/g/) - [H](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/h/) - [I](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/i/) - [J](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/j/) - [K](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/k/) - [L](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/l/) - [M](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/m/) - [N](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/n/) - [O](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/o/) - [P](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/p/) - [Q](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/q/) - [R](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/r/) - [S](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/s/) - [T](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/t/) - [U](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/u/) - [V](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/v/) - [W](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/w/) - [Y](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/y/) [← Nursing: fundamentals and procedures](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) Educational content for students; it does not replace your institution's protocols, supervised clinical training or a prescriber's order. Dose-calculation examples use made-up numbers: they are educational, not a clinical order. Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/procedures/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/procedures/