Question 1

What should the nurse do to establish a two-chamber waterless chest tube system?

Accepted Answer

A) Add sterile water to the suction chamber. 
B) Add sterile solution to the water seal. 
C) Set the float ball to the correct drainage pressure. 
D) Connect directly to the chest tube and add nothing. 
A) Add sterile water to the suction chamber. 
B) Add sterile solution to the water seal. 
C) Set the float ball to the correct drainage pressure. 
D) Connect directly to the chest tube and add nothing.

Question 2

What is indicated by continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber with no bubbles noted in the suction-control chamber of the drainage system?

Accepted Answer

A) A leak in the system 
B) Normal functioning 
C) A drainage obstruction 
D) Insufficient suction pressure 
A) A leak in the system 
B) Normal functioning 
C) A drainage obstruction 
D) Insufficient suction pressure

Question 3

The nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube that was inserted 4 days earlier.She notices that the drainage is blood-tinged.What might this indicate to the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A) Malignancy 
B) Pulmonary infarction 
C) Empyema 
D) Hemothorax 
A) Malignancy 
B) Pulmonary infarction 
C) Empyema 
D) Hemothorax

Question 4

The nurse is providing care for a patient with a pneumothorax.She anticipated removal of the chest tube because of the absence of an air leak for the past _____ hours.

Accepted Answer

A) 6 to 8 
B) 12 to 16 
C) 18 to 24 
D) 48 to 72 
A) 6 to 8 
B) 12 to 16 
C) 18 to 24 
D) 48 to 72

Question 5

Appropriate intervention for the patient who is having a reinfusion of chest tube drainage is noted when the nurse:

Accepted Answer

A) hangs the reinfusion lower than the usual intravenous (IV)bag. 
B) uses a microaggregate filter on the reinfusion bag. 
C) maintains 500 mm Hg pressure in the gravity blood cuff. 
D) keeps the clamps open on the drainage tubing during bag transfer. 
A) hangs the reinfusion lower than the usual intravenous (IV)bag. 
B) uses a microaggregate filter on the reinfusion bag. 
C) maintains 500 mm Hg pressure in the gravity blood cuff. 
D) keeps the clamps open on the drainage tubing during bag transfer.

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube connected to water-seal drainage.The nurse may delegate which of the following tasks to nursing assistive personnel (NAP)?

Accepted Answer

A) Changing the chest tube drainage system 
B) Milking the chest tube 
C) Measuring chest tube output 
D) Turning and positioning the patient 
A) Changing the chest tube drainage system 
B) Milking the chest tube 
C) Measuring chest tube output 
D) Turning and positioning the patient

Question 7

During assessment of a patient,the chest tube becomes dislodged.What should the nurse do first?

Accepted Answer

A) Have an assistant apply an occlusive gauze dressing and tape on all four sides. 
B) Clamp the chest tube. 
C) Attempt to gently reinsert the tube. 
D) Apply pressure over the insertion site. 
A) Have an assistant apply an occlusive gauze dressing and tape on all four sides. 
B) Clamp the chest tube. 
C) Attempt to gently reinsert the tube. 
D) Apply pressure over the insertion site.

Question 8

Which of the following is an expected outcome of chest tube insertion?

Accepted Answer

A) Mild chest pain is maintained. 
B) Breath sounds are auscultated in all lobes. 
C) Drainage from the pleural cavity increases over time. 
D) Lung expansion is increased beyond the unaffected side. 
A) Mild chest pain is maintained. 
B) Breath sounds are auscultated in all lobes. 
C) Drainage from the pleural cavity increases over time. 
D) Lung expansion is increased beyond the unaffected side.

Question 9

The nurse is caring for a patient who has a chest tube connected to a water seal.The patient is not on a ventilator.Which of the following would the nurse consider normal?

Accepted Answer

A) The fluid level in the water seal rises with inspiration. 
B) The fluid level in the water seal falls with inspiration. 
C) Constant bubbling occurs in the water seal. 
D) The fluid level in the water seal falls with expiration 3 days after insertion. 
A) The fluid level in the water seal rises with inspiration. 
B) The fluid level in the water seal falls with inspiration. 
C) Constant bubbling occurs in the water seal. 
D) The fluid level in the water seal falls with expiration 3 days after insertion.

Question 10

The nurse is performing an initial assessment of a patient with a chest tube placed in the eighth intercostal space.Which of the following findings would the nurse need to assess further?

Accepted Answer

A) Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute 
B) Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber 
C) The presence of subcutaneous emphysema 
D) Complaints of pain at the insertion site 
E) Serous drainage on the chest tube dressing the size of a bean 
A) Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute 
B) Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber 
C) The presence of subcutaneous emphysema 
D) Complaints of pain at the insertion site 
E) Serous drainage on the chest tube dressing the size of a bean

Exam 27: Closed Chest Drainage Systems

What should the nurse do to establish a two-chamber waterless chest tube system?

What is indicated by continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber with no bubbles noted in the suction-control chamber of the drainage system?

The nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube that was inserted 4 days earlier.She notices that the drainage is blood-tinged.What might this indicate to the nurse?

The nurse is providing care for a patient with a pneumothorax.She anticipated removal of the chest tube because of the absence of an air leak for the past _____ hours.

Appropriate intervention for the patient who is having a reinfusion of chest tube drainage is noted when the nurse:

The nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube connected to water-seal drainage.The nurse may delegate which of the following tasks to nursing assistive personnel (NAP)?

During assessment of a patient,the chest tube becomes dislodged.What should the nurse do first?

Which of the following is an expected outcome of chest tube insertion?

The nurse is caring for a patient who has a chest tube connected to a water seal.The patient is not on a ventilator.Which of the following would the nurse consider normal?

The nurse is performing an initial assessment of a patient with a chest tube placed in the eighth intercostal space.Which of the following findings would the nurse need to assess further?

Using Evidence in Practice

Admitting, transfer, and Discharge

Communication and Collaboration

Documentation and Informatics

Vital Signs

Health Assessment

Specimen Collection

Diagnostic Procedures

Medical Asepsis

Sterile Technique

Safe Patient Handling, transfer, and Positioning

Exercise Mobility

Support Surfaces and Special Beds

Patient Safety

Disaster Preparedness

Pain Management

Palliative Care

Personal Hygiene and Bed Making

Care of the Eye and Ear

Safe Medication Preparation

Administration of Nonparenteral Medications

Administration of Parenteral Medications

Oxygen Therapy

Performing Chest Physiotherapy

Airway Management

Cardiac Care

Emergency Measure for Life Support

Intravenous and Vascular Access Therapy

Blood Therapy

Oral Nutrition

Enteral Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition

Urinary Elimination

Bowel Elimination and Gastric Intubation

Ostomy Care

Preoperative and Postoperative Care

Intraoperative Care

Pressure Injury Prevention and Care

Wound Care and Irrigations

Dressings,bandages,and Binders

Therapeutic Use of Heat and Cold

Home Care Safety

Home Care Teaching

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