Question

A nurse is caring for a client who is 12 hours postoperative and has a chest tube to a drainage system with suction. The nurse should intervene for which of the following observations?

a) Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
b) Sudden cessation of bubbling in the water seal chamber
c) Fluctuations in the water seal chamber with the client's respirations
d) A gentle tidaling effect in the water seal chamber with respirations

Answer 1

The nurse should intervene for sudden cessation of bubbling in the water seal chamber, which may indicate an obstruction in the chest tube or drainage system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should intervene for sudden cessation of bubbling in the water seal chamber.

This indicates that there is an obstruction in the chest tube or the drainage system, which can lead to complications such as tension pneumothorax.

The continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber is a normal finding, as it indicates that air is being removed from the pleural space.

Fluctuations in the water seal chamber with the client's respirations and a gentle tidaling effect in the water seal chamber with respirations are also normal.