The nurse is educating a student nurse on caring for a patient with a chest tube. Which statement from the student nurse indicates successful learning?
a. "I should clamp the chest tube when giving the patient a bed bath."
b. "I should report if I see continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber."
c. "I should strip the drains on the chest tube every hour to promote drainage."
d. "I should notify the health care provider first, if the chest tube becomes dislodged."
ANS: B
Correct care of a chest tube involves knowing normal and abnormal functioning of the tube. A constant or intermittent bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates a leak in the drainage system, and the health care provider must be notified immediately. Stripping the tube is not routinely performed as it increases pressure. If the tubing disconnects from the drainage unit, instruct the patient to exhale as much as possible and to cough. This maneuver rids the pleural space of as much air as possible. Temporarily reestablish a water seal by immersing the open end of the chest tube into a container of sterile water. The chest tube should not be clamped unless necessary; if so, the length of time clamped would be minimal to reduce the risk of pneumothorax.
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