The nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube connected to wall suction. To keep the tube patent, the nurse should implement which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
a. Routinely "milk" the drainage tubing.
b. Avoid dependent loops of the drainage tubing.
c. Lift and clear the tube every 15 minutes.
d. Coil the drainage tubing to prevent dependent loops.
B, C
Chest tube milking or stripping usually is contraindicated because it does not improve catheter patency. Careful management of chest tube drainage prevents the need to milk the chest tube. Institute nursing interventions to maintain tube patency. These interventions include avoiding dependent loops of the drainage tube, or, when these loops cannot be avoided, such as when the patient is sitting, lifting and clearing the tube every 15 minutes. If the tubing is coiled, looped, or clotted, drainage is impeded, and this can result in a tension pneumothorax.
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After a long and often difficult process of organization, the nurses at a chain of long-term care homes have joined a union. Which of the following aspects of nursing practice will the union be most directly involved with?
A) Establishing standards of nursing practice B) Relationships between individual nurses C) Organizing the accreditation process D) The issue of mandatory overtime
Which of the following interventions is recommended for an older adult in the final stages of dying?
a. Apply an electric blanket to keep the pa-tient warm. b. Lower the head of the bed, and turn the head to the side. c. Decrease the number of visitors. d. Support the preservation of energy.
Ms. Rudman, age 74 years, has no known health problems or diseases. You are doing a preventive health care history and examination. Which symptom is associated with intrathoracic infection?
a. Barrel chest b. Cor pulmonale c. Funnel chest d. Malodorous breath
During a linen change, the nurse discovers the client's radioactive implant is in the bed. Which of the following should the nurse implement?
1. Evacuate the client from the room quickly and close the door. 2. Notify the physician and the radiation safety officer immediately. 3. Determine where the implant belongs and replace it immediately. 4. Pick up the implant with tongs and place it in a lead-lined container.