Question

"While the nurse is providing morning hygiene for a patient who has a chest tube, the patient has rolled over quickly and the chest tube has become disconnected from the drainage unit. How should the nurse first respond to this event?

-Submerge the end of the tube in sterile water
-Clamp the tube near the end and also near the insertion point
-Place the end of the tube on a sterile surface and seek help promptly
-Clean the end of the tube with an alcohol swab and reconnect it to the drainage unit"

Answer 1

The nurse should first submerge the end of the tube in sterile water to create a water seal and prevent air from entering the patient's chest cavity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should first submerge the end of the tube in sterile water. This should be done to prevent air from entering the patient's chest cavity and causing a pneumothorax, which is a potentially life-threatening condition. Submerging the tube in sterile water creates a water seal that prevents air from entering the system.