The nurse is assessing the newly placed chest tube in a patient and notices the constant bubbling in the water seal chamber. An appropriate action to take would be:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An appropriate action for the nurse to take when observing constant bubbling in the water seal chamber would be to assess the chest drainage unit and tubing for an air leak. If, after the assessment, no air leak is discovered, call the physician. A tension Pneumothorax can occur if the leaking and trapping of air in the pleural space occurs.

The Nurse Is Assessing the Newly Placed Chest Tube in a Patient