A nurse is caring for a client who has a chest tube in place to a closed chest drainage system. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client’s lung has expanded?

Choice A reason: Performing CPT immediately after the child eats is not a good action for the nurse to plan to take for a child who has cystic fibrosis and a prescription to receive CPT. CPT involves techniques such as percussion, vibration, and postural drainage that help to loosen and remove mucus from the lungs. Performing CPT right after eating can cause nausea, vomiting, or aspiration, especially if the child has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is common in cystic fibrosis. The nurse should plan to perform CPT at least 1 hour before or after meals.

Choice B reason: Percussing each lung segment for 15 min is not a necessary action for the nurse to plan to take for a child who has cystic fibrosis and a prescription to receive CPT. Percussion is a technique that involves clapping the chest with a cupped hand to create vibrations that loosen the mucus in the airways. Percussion can be done manually or with a mechanical device. The duration of percussion depends on the amount and location of the mucus, but it is usually done for 3 to 5 min per lung segment. Percussing for 15 min per segment can be excessive and cause bruising, pain, or fatigue.

Choice C reason: Administering albuterol prior to CPT is a beneficial action for the nurse to plan to take for a child who has cystic fibrosis and a prescription to receive CPT. Albuterol is a bronchodilator that helps to relax the smooth muscles of the airways and improve airflow. Administering albuterol before CPT can enhance the effectiveness of the airway clearance techniques by opening up the airways and making it easier to cough up the mucus.

Choice D reason: Performing vibration during the client’s inspirations is not a correct action for the nurse to plan to take for a child who has cystic fibrosis and a prescription to receive CPT. Vibration is a technique that involves applying pressure and shaking the chest wall during exhalation to help move the mucus out of the lungs. Vibration can be done manually or with a mechanical device. Performing vibration during inspiration can interfere with the inhalation of air and oxygen, and reduce the effectiveness of the technique.

Choice A reason: Repositioning the client toward the left side is not necessary or helpful for a client who has a three-chamber closed chest tube system. The chest tube drainage system must always be placed below the drainage site and secured in an upright position to prevent it from being knocked over.

Choice B reason: Continuing to monitor the client is the appropriate action for the nurse to take after noticing a rise in the water seal chamber with client inspiration. The water in the water seal chamber should rise with inhalation and fall with exhalation (this is called tidaling), which demonstrates that the chest tube is patent. This is a normal finding and does not indicate a problem with the chest tube system or the client's condition.

Choice C reason: Clamping the chest tube near the water seal is not recommended for a client who has a three-chamber closed chest tube system. Clamping the chest tube can cause a buildup of air or fluid in the pleural space and increase the risk of complications such as tension pneumothorax or infection. Clamping the chest tube should only be done in certain situations, such as changing the drainage system, checking for an air leak, or removing the chest tube.

Choice D reason: Immediately notifying the provider is not necessary for a client who has a three-chamber closed chest tube system and shows a rise in the water seal chamber with client inspiration. As mentioned above, this is a normal finding and does not indicate a problem with the chest tube system or the client's condition. The nurse should only notify the provider if there are signs of complications, such as continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber, excessive drainage, chest pain, dyspnea, or subcutaneous emphysema.