Quick Question From Student Regarding Hemovac

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hi, I'm a first year student who is doing care plans on hospital patients for the first time this semester. We are supposed to document any "drains" the patient has on one area of our form. I'm embarrassed to admit, I'm not sure exactly what they're talking about... Wound drainage? Would a hemovac qualify?

I realize it's a stupid question, and that's why I couldn't seem to bring myself to ask my instructor... :uhoh21: can someone educate me please??

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No question is stupid. Just remember if you don't know somebody else in your class is hoping someone will ask.

Drains, tubes, nurses love words. Go basic. A tube coming out of the body with drainage.

Ask your instructor for clarification, "would you consider a foley a drain?" Once saw 2 nurses get into a heated discussion on that one...

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
No question is stupid. Just remember if you don't know somebody else in your class is hoping someone will ask.

Drains, tubes, nurses love words. Go basic. A tube coming out of the body with drainage.

Ask your instructor for clarification, "would you consider a foley a drain?" Once saw 2 nurses get into a heated discussion on that one...

Okay, I guess that's what throws me off, because we have a separate area for "other tubes" (ng, ct... and i don't know what ct is either now that i look at that...) and anyway, they want foleys to go in the other tubes category. So is a hemovac considered a drain?

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A hemovac is considered a drain. A ct is a chest tube. It can also be a cat scan. ;)

A jackson pratt (j/p) is another type of drain.

Man, I don't miss clinicals, care plans, etc. ;) hehe

*edited to correct a typo

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I guess you have your answer -yes it is a drain. But to emphasize about questions - please please please ask them. There is no such thing as a dumb question and what is scary to those of us with experience are the nurses who feel they know everything, don't ask and make mistakes...big ones.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I guess you have your answer -yes it is a drain. But to emphasize about questions - please please please ask them. There is no such thing as a dumb question and what is scary to those of us with experience are the nurses who feel they know everything, don't ask and make mistakes...big ones.

Thank you, I know that this is true. I have a clinical instructor who is incredibly intimidating though and will demean you for asking anything you could have discovered on your own... And for some reason, I just really felt that he would have had a field day with this question... (I know that that's no excuse for not asking questions, I just thought I could self-preserve on this one tho and get the answer in another way :chuckle )

And thank you for the answer on the ct, how obvious... all i could think was cat scan!

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Too bad he's such a jerk. I know there is a shortage of nursing professors, but some clearly shouldn't be in the position.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Read my signature lines....especially the last one! :)

Now with these answers, just in case someone else is wondering.....ask your instructor if that is what he is wanting. If he ever belittles you b/c of a question....quote my quote. lol

Good luck in school. :icon_hug:

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If you are too scared to ask your instructor, ask other nurses on the unit. I have found everyone from the nurses to the pharmacists to the doctors to the unit clerk to the nice man who mops the floors to have something to add to my education. If you are nice and respectful they will probably answer you. Of course, don't barge in on them in the middle of a code, but if you are quick and concise many will be willing to help you!:)

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If you are too scared to ask your instructor, ask other nurses on the unit. I have found everyone from the nurses to the pharmacists to the doctors to the unit clerk to the nice man who mops the floors to have something to add to my education. If you are nice and respectful they will probably answer you. Of course, don't barge in on them in the middle of a code, but if you are quick and concise many will be willing to help you!:)

Good advise. Sounds like your instructor isn't the helpful type and probably favors the super confident students. I remember the type. They are bullies basically and like to pick on people. Just be polite but he won't change anytime soon.

I'm sure there are nice nurses on the units who love students. Just ask them. Or ask us, we love students here!

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Thank you, I know that this is true. I have a clinical instructor who is incredibly intimidating though and will demean you for asking anything you could have discovered on your own... And for some reason, I just really felt that he would have had a field day with this question... (I know that that's no excuse for not asking questions, I just thought I could self-preserve on this one tho and get the answer in another way :chuckle )

And thank you for the answer on the ct, how obvious... all i could think was cat scan!

But isn't it great that you have THIS place to come and ask questions.

ALOT of nurses here willing to answer any question for you, and you don't have to feel embarrassed.

I wish I'd had this kind of a deal when I went to nursing school, but back then I didn't even know what a computer was.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

We chart hemovacs under drains, and foley output under urine output. :)

Don't let the trolls get you down. Good luck in school. No question is too stupid to bring it here to ask. I've asked a lot of questions about my nursing practice and am asking even more now that I'm working on my BSN.

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