The nurse is caring for a client who had a chest tube inserted 48 hours ago.During the first AM assessment,the nurse noted there was intermittent bubbling of the water in the water-seal chamber.When assessing the client 2 hours later,the nurse notes that the water is now continuously bubbling.Which is the nurse's priority action at this time?
A)Document the presence of the bubbling.
B)Immediately contact the healthcare provider.
C)Instruct the client to perform deep-breathing exercises.
D)Disconnect the chest tube from the drainage system and place the chest tube in a new chest tube drainage system.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber of a chest tube drainage system may indicate an air leak, potentially from the lung or the chest tube system itself. This could signify a new or worsening pneumothorax or a problem with the chest tube system, requiring immediate evaluation and intervention by a healthcare provider to prevent complications.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Client Who Had a Chest