A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has a pleural chest tube with a closed drainage system. Which of the following actions should the nurse recommend for the client's care?
Maintain 30 ml sterile water in the drainage collection chamber
Place the drainage device level with the tube insertion site
Keep system tubing connections taped together.
Empty the drainage collection chamber every 4 hr.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Maintain 30 ml sterile water in the drainage collection chamber: The sterile water is maintained in the water-seal chamber, not the drainage collection chamber. The water-seal chamber typically holds about 2 cm of water to create a one-way valve preventing air from entering the pleural space, not 30 mL in the drainage area.
B. Place the drainage device level with the tube insertion site: The drainage device should always be kept below the level of the chest tube insertion site to allow gravity to assist drainage and to prevent backflow of fluid or air into the pleural cavity, which could cause complications.
C. Keep system tubing connections taped together: Taping the system tubing connections securely helps maintain a closed system, preventing accidental disconnections that could lead to air leaks or loss of the negative pressure needed for proper lung re-expansion. This is essential for the effectiveness of chest tube management.
D. Empty the drainage collection chamber every 4 hr: The drainage collection chamber is not emptied routinely. Instead, it is replaced when full or according to facility protocol. Frequent opening of the system increases the risk of introducing infection or losing the closed negative-pressure system.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. "I will empty the pouch every 2 to 3 hours.": While it is important to empty the pouch when it is about one-third to half full, emptying it every 2 to 3 hours is unnecessary unless output is extremely high. Frequent emptying is based on the volume of stool, not strict timing.
B. "I will no longer be able to eat nuts.": Clients with a sigmoid colostomy typically resume a normal diet after healing, including nuts, unless otherwise instructed. Nuts are more commonly restricted after ileostomies due to the risk of obstruction, not sigmoid colostomies.
C. "I should expect my stool to be unformed.": Stool from a sigmoid colostomy is usually formed or semi-formed because it comes from the end of the colon where water absorption has mostly occurred. Unformed stool is more characteristic of ileostomies.
D. "I will notify my doctor if the stoma starts to look purple.": A healthy stoma should appear pink to red and moist. A purple, dark, or dusky stoma indicates impaired blood flow or ischemia and requires immediate medical evaluation to prevent serious complications.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Auscultate the client's lung sounds: While lung sounds are important to assess in clients with heart failure, auscultating lung sounds is not directly required before administering digoxin. The immediate concern with digoxin is its effect on heart rate and rhythm.
B. Check the client's weight: Monitoring weight is important in heart failure management to assess fluid retention, but weight measurement is not necessary immediately prior to administering a dose of digoxin.
C. Check the client's apical pulse: Before giving digoxin, it is critical to assess the client's apical pulse for one full minute. If the pulse is below a specified rate (60 beats/min for adults), the dose may need to be withheld and the provider notified due to the risk of digoxin-induced bradycardia.
D. Obtain the client's oxygen saturation: Oxygen saturation is important in evaluating respiratory function, but it is not a priority action before administering digoxin. The primary safety check is heart rate assessment.
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