Question

The nurse notes tidaling of the water level in the tube submerged in the water-seal chamber in a patient with closed chest tube drainage. The nurse should:

a. continue to monitor the patient
b. check all connections for a leak in the system
c. lower the drainage collector further from the chest
d. clamp the tubing at progressively distal points away from the patient until the tidaling stops

Answer 1

The nurse should continue to monitor the patient as tidaling is a normal finding and usually does not require intervention.

Step-by-step explanation:

Tidaling of the water level in the tube submerged in the water-seal chamber indicates a fluctuation in the pressure within the chest tube drainage system. Tidaling occurs as a result of changes in the intrathoracic pressure during breathing.

In this scenario, the nurse should continue to monitor the patient. Tidaling is a normal finding and usually does not require intervention.