Removal of Chest Drains

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I would like to hear from anyone regarding unit protocols for removal of chest drains post cardiac surgery. I'm mostly interested in who removes them - RN or MD, particularly in Canada (Ontario), but I am interested in hearing from anyone.

If RNs remove them in your unit, was it always a nursing duty, if not, how long has it been, and was it a difficult process getting the task away from the MD?? What are your protocols? Do you know of any good journal articles that address this issue?

Thanks very much, all responses will be greatly appreciated.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Usually the Dr. that inserts them will remove them or their PA

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Usually I've only seen the surgeons PA do it. Definitely not the RN(floor), but then again I'm not sure if a NP could?

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Specializes in ICU.

at our facility the rn's remove all chest tubes from the open heart pts. the blake drains are removed by the md or the pa. we have never had a problem with this. :)

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On our open heart patients it is always the surgeon that removes the chest tubes.;)

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RN removes them in our ICUs, floor the MD would.

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Hi,

Here is a thread from a while back that a few people responded to also.

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16047&highlight=chest+tubes

bob

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thanks everyone who responded to my question. And thanks Bob, I did find the other thread. I had looked in the other icu threads, but didnt' think to look in Coronary Care!!

It seems that generally in North America, nurses don't remove chest drains. But I believe it is common practice in the UK and Australia. I wonder why??

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