Dermabond and chest tube question

Nurses General Nursing

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How do you transport chest tubes to floor or xray, etc.? Also, are RN's allowed to Dermabond wounds?

Specializes in SRNA.

Most chest tube containers that I've seen have hooks attached that you can hang off siderails for patient transport. The main precaution to take is that they aren't knocked over and they remain upright.

I've not seen a RN dermabond wounds, but working in the ICU, my patients are usually stitched up and put back together in ER before they get to me.

Specializes in CVICU.

Just unplug the chest tubes from the wall suction and make sure to never clamp the chest tube (the tue that comes from the patient). Simply unhooking the suction part is usually sufficient. If the doc is really worried about not having suction for an extended period of time, arrange for a portable suction device to be taken with you.

Where I work we can dermabond (RN or LPN) but only with a doctor's order.

Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Chest tubes have to be transported in a position so that they are below the chest at all times. Just unhook them from suction and hook them to the side of the bed. But they cannot be clamped and they cannot be above chest level.

As to Dermabond. Dermabond can only be used for very specific wound types and there is a trick to getting the bond on correctly so that you get proper wound closure with the least amount of scaring. Before you tackle this task, you should make sure you understand what Dermabond is, how to use it, how to instruct the patient in care afterward, what types of wounds it can be used for and have some actual experience with it's application under the supervision of someone who has experience with this material. People get upset when they end up with a scar they don't like.

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