Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has a chest tube in place to a closed chest drainage system. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client's lung has re-expanded?

A. Oxygen saturation of 95%
B. No fluctuations in the water seal chamber
C. No reports of pleuritic chest pain
D. Occasional bubbling in the water-seal chamber

Answer 1

The absence of fluctuations in the water seal chamber of a closed chest drainage system should indicate to a nurse that a client's lung has re-expanded.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question focuses on identifying the indication that a client's lung has re-expanded after having a chest tube in place connected to a closed chest drainage system.

The correct answer is B. No fluctuations in the water seal chamber. When a patient has a chest tube in place, the nurse must monitor the drainage system for proper function. A lack of fluctuations (tidaling) in the water seal chamber typically indicates that there is no longer air leaking from the lung into the chest cavity, suggesting the lung has re-expanded. Other options such as oxygen saturation of 95%, no reports of pleuritic chest pain, and occasional bubbling in the water-seal chamber are not as definitive indicators of lung re-expansion.

It's essential for the nurse to assess the entire clinical picture, including a patient's symptoms and diagnostic tests, to determine the status of lung re-expansion conclusively.