Answer: B - The nurse would want to limit suctioning to 10 seconds through a tracheostomy. It is generally advised not to leave the catheter in the tracheostomy tube for more than 5-10 seconds since the patient will not be able to breathe well with the catheter in place.
Hypoxemia can be caused by prolonged suctioning. This could lead to a vasovagal response, which will cause bradycardia. The patient will need to be pre-oxygenated prior to suctioning. Make sure you allow the patient to recover from the suctioning and to catch his/her breath. Wait for at least 10 seconds between suctioning to permit the patient to catch their breath.
Sources: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
