The nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube connected to wall suction.To keep the tube patent,the nurse should implement which of the following? (Select all that apply. )

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Chest tube milking or stripping usually is contraindicated because it does not improve catheter patency.Careful management of chest tube drainage prevents the need to milk the chest tube.Institute nursing interventions to maintain tube patency.These interventions include avoiding dependent loops of the drainage tube,or,when these loops cannot be avoided,such as when the patient is sitting,lifting,and clearing the tube every 15 minutes.If the tubing is coiled,looped,or clotted,drainage is impeded,and this can result in a tension pneumothorax.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with a Chest