The nurse assesses the patient with a chest tube and notes continuous bubbling in the water seal of the chest tube drainage system. Which action does the nurse take first?

Examine the connections and insertion site. A continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber of a chest tube indicates a leak in the system. The nurse must examine the insertion site to ensure the drainage holes are in the pleural space and the connections to make sure they are secure. After this initial assessment and associated interventions, the nurse can notify the provider and document the finding. The nurse would suspect kinked tubing if there was no tidaling or bubbles in the water seal.

The nurse assesses the patient with a chest tube and notes contin...

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Physiological Adaptation
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Category: Physiological Adaptation
Difficulty: 6

Topics: Communication & Documentation Delegation, Prioritization and Leadership Respiratory

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