Shallow Suctioning of the Oral Cavity

This microcredential provides the essential knowledge and skills required to manage and/or remove excess secretions in a client's oral cavity using positioning and/or shallow suctioning. The use of suction devices is demonstrated, and potential complications are discussed.

This training is competency based. To receive a Statement of Attainment, participants must satisfactorily complete an assessment of knowledge and skills.

1 year

We select our Premium Health trainers and assessors carefully. All are nurses or paramedics with appropriate qualifications, technical expertise and experience in the health care, emergency first aid and education sectors. This enables them to provide you with quality training which is grounded in experience and knowledge of the field.

Some of the topics include:

• the structure and function of the respiratory system


• infection control procedures for the use of shallow suction devices


• support worker scope of practice for the use of suction devices


• various strategies to manage excess secretions and foreign material in the upper airway


• the principles of safe suction techniques of the oral cavity


• common problems and complications relating to the use shallow suctioning devices