As nurses develop nursing skills in the nursing profession, they must learn the proper manner in which to care for chest tubes and
how to change the chest tube dressing of their patients. Patients depend on the experience of nurses to ensure that their medical care is as precise as possible. A chest tube goes by many different names, including chest drainage tube and chest drain. The plastic tube enters the side of the patient’s chest to remove blood, air, or fluid from around the heart and lungs. The lung contains two tissue layers called pleura that contain fluid that assists the lungs with helping patients breathe. Conditions and diseases—such as pleural effusion, emphysema, tumors, heart failure, hemothorax, infection, and pneumothorax—may cause blood, air, or additional fluid to gather in the pleural space. The chest tube helps the patient breath better by expanding the lungs. Without the use of a chest tube, patients who have certain conditions and diseases may have their lungs collapse if the pressure becomes too great in their chest. How to Care for Chest Tubes
Video on Chest Tube CareSteps on How to Change a Chest Tube Dressing
Complications with Chest TubesThe complications that patients may experience as a result of the chest tube include infection and blood clots in the arm or leg. The blood clots can travel to the patient’s lungs, causing breathing problems and chest pain, which can be life-threatening. The tube can also poke through organs close to the lungs. The chest tube can also move out of place as the patient turns or moves. Nurses have a great responsibility when it comes to caring for their patients. The patient’s chest tube must receive proper care so that infections and life-threatening conditions do not occur. With practice, nurses will learn to care for chest tubes with ease. What steps should you take to ensure that chest tube drainage system is functioning properly?Ensure the chest drainage unit is below the level of the insertion site, upright, and secured to prevent it from being accidentally knocked over. The drainage system must remain upright for the water-seal chamber to function correctly.
What are the responsibilities of a nurse to the patient with a chest tube drainage?Chest Drain Assessment & Management. Ensure that there is emergency equipment at bedside including: ... . Auscultate the chest.. Assess the chest tube and system tubing (i.e. for kinks, dislodgement etc) as well as the drain dressing to ensure it is intact and for any signs of infection.. What is the nurse's priority assessment when caring for a patient with a chest tube?What are the nursing responsibilities when caring for a client with a chest tube to a drainage system? Look at the client first- (color, level of consciousness, airway patency, respiratory rate, depth, rhythm, chest movement- symmetry, lung sounds, lips/ nailbeds).
What should a nurse monitor in patient with chest tube?They should be positioned below the patient's chest at all times. The nurse is responsible for monitoring the three compartments: collection chamber, water seal, and suction. As discussed above, the nurse will simply document the drainage any drainage that collects in the collection chamber.
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