RN's removing surgical drains

We do at my facility, but it depends alot on the docs themselves. We have one who purposely doesn't stitch the drain in so we can remove it easier. It's really not too bad, we do many more difficult tasks. Every facility may have their on policy.

Been doing it for years, no problems here.

Interesting to see what others can & can't do. On our ward we take everything out: chest drains (retrosternal, pericardial, pleural), ICCs, epidurals, CVLs, belovac drains, pacing wires.. We have to show compentancy when first on ward ofcourse.
Don't forget to be careful when taking out ICC to prevent pneumothorax, get pt to hold breath, pinch skin to seal, if no purse-string suture to close site put on steri-strips, always seal with vasoline-gauze & air tight dressing.

Hi
I am a nursing student. On my first rotation to the ICU I watched an NP remove a chest tube. I guess it was my bad because I did not ask more questions about this and just assumed (and we all know what assuming does to U & ME!) she did it because she was an NP, as opposed to an RN.

I guess I missed that day of check offs though. I am about to graduate and have not learned anything about removal of drains. In my schools' defense though let me say I was in Peds until last week and moved to Med-Surg at that time. If this is not addressed in this setting I will be sure to bring it up. I certainly do not want to be blind sided with a procedure I have never studied/performed when I get out into the real world.

Thanks for all the info and the original question...you have all helped in preparing me for a safer future...
Lisa T.

Routinely the residents remove them, we do them ever now and then.

Our patients are pretty good at removing the tubes for us, inadvertantly of course..suture and all

Ick. Tracy, I removed my first one on a kid yesterday. He was actually really good, but ick.

Lord!! in Plastics we are like plumbers...we remove drains all the time especialy with the flap reconstructions.

I'm sitting here trying to remember if I have ever pulled a surgical drain of any kind before? Gee, I can't remember!
It's only been five years since I've worked in nursing. Guess I better sign up for that RN refresher course afterall.

It depends on the surgeon, but yes we do remove various types of drains.

Doesn't it depend on your states mandated scope of practice?