Practice Quiz

CMSRN Medical-Surgical Nursing

Category - Pulmonary

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A client has a right chest tube following a thoracotomy. When assisting the client to ambulate, what measure is appropriate to maintain the water seal?
  1. Keep the collection device below the level of the chest
  2. Clamp the chest tube before assisting the client out of bed
  3. Milk the chest tube when the client returns to bed and assess patency
  4. Connect the collection device to a portable suction machine
Explanation
Answer - A - Gravity helps maintain the water seal, thereby preventing backflow of air fluid into the chest. The chest tube should never be clamped, as this may cause pneumothorax. The chest tube should not be milked unless ordered by the physician for clients with visible clots in the chest drainage tubing. Milking the chest tube creates suction within the tubing and can cause pleural tissue damage.
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