While assessing the patient, the nurse observes constant bubbling in the water-seal chamber of a closed chest-drainage system. What should the nurse conclude?
A) The system is functioning normally.
B) The patient has a pneumothorax.
C) The system has an air leak.
D) The chest tube is obstructed.
Ans: C
Feedback: Constant bubbling in the chamber indicates an air leak and requires immediate intervention. The patient with a pneumothorax will have intermittent bubbling in the water-seal chamber. Patients without a pneumothorax should have no evidence of bubbling in the chamber. If the tube is obstructed, the nurse should notice that the fluid has stopped fluctuating in the water-seal chamber.
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