I graduated in May 2000 and have been working as as staff RN for 5 months, the last month in a new unit (Card/Tele).I feel like I am really "getting it" now. All those things I learned in scholl are finally being "appied". Then....yesturday, I had a sweet old guy w/ 2 chest tubes to suction and everything was running smoothly.I only had 4 patients that day and was o.k(still out of breath and needing to pee badly of course!).The PA came and "stripped" the tubes and then left.About an hr later the Doc and PA come back and I hear from the room "tell her to come in here". I thought my heart was going to stop! I went in and they say there's no H2O in the system.Well, there was an hour before, I swear! I looked at them and heard the bubbling.BOTH Pleurovacs were filled to the correct line. So can anyone tell me if stripping the tubes messed w/the pressure or what? I owned up and said frankly "I'm very sorry.I'm new here and I'm still learning.Can you tell me what happened?". The Doc just filled them and the PA fixed it and that was that.They didn't rant or yell but I feel really bad! The PA said no harm done but I want to know what happened.I dont't want to harm my patients.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.