A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has a chest tube.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Strip the client’s chest tube every 2 hours.
Loop the tubing of the chest tube on the client’s bed.
Place the chest tube drainage system above the level of the client’s heart.
Tape the connections on the client’s chest tube.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale:
Stripping the client’s chest tube every 2 hours is not recommended. Stripping can create high negative pressures in the tube that can cause damage to the lung tissue. It can also lead to increased pain for the patient and is generally not a standard practice in chest tube management.
Choice B rationale:
Looping the tubing of the chest tube on the client’s bed is not a recommended practice. The chest tube should be free of loops or kinks to allow for proper drainage of air and fluid from the pleural space. Any loops or kinks in the tube can lead to accumulation of fluid or air, which can cause complications such as tension pneumothorax.
The chest tube drainage system should not be placed above the level of the client’s heart. This can lead to the backflow of blood or fluid into the pleural space, which can cause complications such as hemothorax or pleural effusion. The drainage system should always be kept below the level of the client’s chest to allow for gravity-assisted drainage.
Choice D rationale:
Taping the connections on the client’s chest tube is a recommended practice. This is done to secure the connections and prevent accidental disconnection or dislodgement of the tube. An accidental disconnection or dislodgement can lead to complications such as pneumothorax or hemothorax. Therefore, all connections should be securely taped to prevent any accidental disconnections.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Administering insulin to a client who is hyperventilating due to respiratory alkalosis would not be the appropriate action. Insulin is used to lower blood glucose levels in clients with hyperglycemia, such as those with diabetes mellitus. It does not directly address the issues of hyperventilation or respiratory alkalosis.
Choice B rationale:
Having the client breathe into a paper bag is the correct action in this case. When a person hyperventilates, they exhale more carbon dioxide (CO2) than they produce. This can lead to a state of respiratory alkalosis, where the blood becomes too alkaline due to the low levels of CO2. By breathing into a paper bag, the client re-inhales some of the exhaled CO2, helping to restore the balance of gases in the blood and alleviate the symptoms of respiratory alkalosis.
Choice C rationale:
Administering sodium bicarbonate to a client who is hyperventilating and has respiratory alkalosis would not be the appropriate action. Sodium bicarbonate is an alkalinizing agent used to treat conditions where there is too much acid in the body, such as metabolic acidosis. In this case, the client’s body is too alkaline due to the respiratory alkalosis, so administering an alkalinizing agent would exacerbate the condition.
Choice D rationale:
Having the client place their head between their knees would not be the appropriate action for a client who is hyperventilating due to respiratory alkalosis. This position is often used to help alleviate symptoms of dizziness or fainting, but it does not address the underlying issue of the imbalance of gases in the blood due to hyperventilation.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Positioning the client supine is not the immediate next step after performing hand hygiene when preparing to remove a patient’s urinary catheter. While it is important to ensure the patient is in a comfortable and appropriate position for the procedure, the immediate next step should be focused on ensuring the area is clean to prevent infection.
Choice B rationale:
After performing hand hygiene, the nurse should cleanse the perineal area with an antiseptic. This is to ensure that the area is clean before proceeding with the removal of the urinary catheter. It helps to prevent the introduction of bacteria into the urinary tract, which could lead to a urinary tract infection. The use of an antiseptic is recommended to kill any potential pathogens that may be present.
Choice C rationale:
Deflating the balloon halfway and then pulling out the catheter is not the immediate next step after performing hand hygiene. This step is usually done later in the process. Before deflating the balloon, it is important to ensure that the area is clean to prevent infection. Moreover, deflating the balloon halfway could potentially cause discomfort or injury to the patient. The balloon should be fully deflated before the catheter is removed.
Choice D rationale:
Having the client bear down during removal is not the immediate next step after performing hand hygiene. This action might be suggested during the actual removal of the catheter to aid in the process, but it is not the immediate next step. The focus right after hand hygiene should be on cleaning the area to prevent infection.
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