Question

The nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube. The nurse finds that the drainage has suddenly ceased. Which nursing action is best in this situation?

1) Milk the tubing immediately.
2) Notify the health care provider.
3) Assess the patient for a recent history of coughing.
4) Assess the patient for recent history of position changing.

Answer 1

The best nursing action is to 2) notify the health care provider.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best nursing action in this situation where the drainage from a chest tube has suddenly ceased is to notify the health care provider. This is because the cessation of drainage may indicate a blockage or a problem with the chest tube, which requires immediate medical attention. Milking the tubing or assessing the patient for coughing or position changing may not address the underlying issue and could potentially cause harm.