A nurse is collecting data from a client who has a new chest tube that is attached to closed chest water-seal drainage and suction. The nurse should report which of the following findings to the charge nurse?
Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
Patient respiratory status is stable and denies pain to chest tube site!
Tidalling, fluctuations in the fluid level in the water-seal chamber
Occasional bubbling in the water-seal chamber
The Correct Answer is A
A. Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates a possible air leak in the system, which needs to be assessed and potentially reported to the charge nurse for further evaluation.
B. Patient respiratory status is stable and denies pain to chest tube site: This is a normal finding and does not require reporting.
C. Tidalling, fluctuations in the fluid level in the water-seal chamber: This is a normal finding, indicating that the chest tube is functioning properly and that the lungs are expanding.
D. Occasional bubbling in the water-seal chamber: This may be acceptable, especially with respiratory movements, as it could indicate that the patient is exhaling, but continuous bubbling is concerning.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Provide mouth care: Mouth care is important to prevent infection but is not the first priority in this procedure.
B. Position the client so that the lung area to be drained is above the client’s trachea: This is necessary for effective postural drainage, but auscultation should be done first to determine the area to drain.
C. Auscultate lung fields. Auscultating lung fields first helps to determine the location of secretions and identify which areas of the lungs need to be targeted during postural drainage and percussion.
D. Cup hands and tap on the client’s chest repeatedly: Chest percussion helps mobilize secretions, but it should be done after auscultation to target the correct areas.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Decreasing respiratory rate: This is not expected; respiratory rate may increase as the body attempts to compensate for reduced oxygenation.
B. Facial flushing: This is not a common symptom of atelectasis and may indicate other issues such as anxiety or fever.
C. Dry cough: While a cough may be present, it is more likely to be productive due to retained secretions.
D. Increasing dyspnea: Atelectasis often leads to decreased lung volume, which can cause increasing dyspnea as the lung tissue collapses.