Question

A charge nurse assigns a newly licensed nurse to care for a client who has a chest tube. The nurse expresses concern about having limited experience with monitoring chest tube drainage. Which of the following actions should the charge nurse take first to provide teaching about chest tubes?

A) Demonstrate the proper technique for changing the chest tube dressing
B) Provide written materials on chest tube care
C) Ask the nurse about previous experiences with chest tubes
D) Refer the nurse to an online educational module

Answer 1

The charge nurse should first ask the newly licensed nurse about previous experiences with chest tubes to assess their knowledge and tailor subsequent teaching effectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a newly licensed nurse expresses concern about having limited experience with monitoring chest tube drainage, the charge nurse should first take action to assess the nurse's prior knowledge and experience levels. This approach ensures that any subsequent education or support is tailored effectively to the nurse's needs.

First Action to Take

The first action the charge nurse should take is C) Ask the nurse about previous experiences with chest tubes. This allows the charge nurse to gauge the nurse's comfort level and knowledge base, which is crucial for providing appropriate and effective education on chest tube care.

Subsequent Teaching Methods

After establishing the newly licensed nurse's familiarity with chest tubes, the charge nurse can then consider a variety of teaching methods, such as demonstrating the proper technique for changing the chest tube dressing, providing written materials on chest tube care, or referring the nurse to an online educational module.