After insertion of a chest tube for a pneumothorax, a patient becomes hypotensive with neck vein distention, tracheal shift, absent breath sounds, and diaphoresis. The nurse suspects a tension pneumothorax has occurred
For what cause of tension pneumothorax should the nurse check?
A) Infection of the lung
B) Kinked or obstructed chest tube
C) Excessive water in the water-seal chamber
D) Excessive chest tube drainage
Ans: B
Feedback: Kinking and blockage of the chest tube is a common cause of a tension pneumothorax. Infection and excessive drainage don't cause a tension pneumothorax. Excessive water doesn't affect chest tube drainage.
You might also like to view...
A nurse is a member of an ethics committee. The committee has been asked to help make a decision regarding end-of-life care for an unresponsive patient who has no advanced directives or next of kin
The nurse asks the committee to meet with the patient's friends to learn more about his life. This action corresponds with which guideline from the DILEMMA mnemonic? 1. Moral hierarchy 2. Make decisions 3. Describe the conflict 4. Learn background information
The basic functional unit of the kidney is the ________
Fill in the blank(s) with correct word
What is a double negative item?
A) I am usually happy. B) I am usually not sad. C) I am not usually unhappy. D) I am afraid of insects and snakes.
Heavy solutions of water and sugar, usually with a flavoring added to disguise the unpleasant taste of the drug, are called ________.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).