What nursing intervention is critical for a patient with a tracheostomy?

For a patient with a tracheostomy, regular suctioning and maintaining the patency of the airway is essential. This intervention is crucial because a tracheostomy bypasses the upper airway's natural filtration and humidification processes, exposing the airway to the risk of obstruction by secretions.

Regular suctioning ensures that accumulated mucus and secretions do not obstruct the airway, which could lead to respiratory distress or infection. Additionally, maintaining airway patency is vital in preventing complications such as hypoxia, atelectasis, or even respiratory failure.

The other choices, while they may be relevant in a broader context of patient care, do not address the immediate and critical need to keep the airway clear and functioning effectively in a patient who has undergone a tracheostomy. Thus, focusing on airway management through regular suctioning is paramount in ensuring the patient's safety and respiratory health.