Technique in recharging JP drains

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Ok - I'm enlisting your help in some feedback here... I was taught when emptying & recharging JP drains to squeeze them flat.

The nurses where I work usually recharge the drains by pushing up on them, leaving them concave at the bottom. Pushing from the bottom seems to remove more air and is easier to "squish" that way... My nurse instructor in my clinicals said she has never seen it done like that, but did not tell me that it was wrong... she looked like she was just biting her lip about it.

I have not been able to find any other examples of JP's recharged like that.

I work at a hospital different from the one I have my clinicals on, so sometimes I get to see things done different ways... But this particular technique seems like it is limited to the area I work in!

So my question to you guys - how do you recharge them? Is there any reason why I wouldn't want to push from the bottom?

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I squeeze it flat, then fold it in half, then plug it back up.

Specializes in ICUs, Tele, etc..

I squeeze it like one of those stress balls, just gotta be careful when emptying a jp with clots cuz if u squeeze too hard...

Yuh, it's not nice getting a face full.

has anyone seen any research on this? I have recently seen it happening at the hospital where I have been having clinicals and my instructor thought I was nuts when I mentioned it. So just wanted to know if anyone had researched to see it makes a difference how you recharge it.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Ok - I'm enlisting your help in some feedback here... I was taught when emptying & recharging JP drains to squeeze them flat.

The nurses where I work usually recharge the drains by pushing up on them, leaving them concave at the bottom. Pushing from the bottom seems to remove more air and is easier to "squish" that way... My nurse instructor in my clinicals said she has never seen it done like that, but did not tell me that it was wrong... she looked like she was just biting her lip about it.

I have not been able to find any other examples of JP's recharged like that.

I work at a hospital different from the one I have my clinicals on, so sometimes I get to see things done different ways... But this particular technique seems like it is limited to the area I work in!

So my question to you guys - how do you recharge them? Is there any reason why I wouldn't want to push from the bottom?

I've seen it both ways. I've done it both ways, for that matter. When doing D/C instructions, I always taught pts./family to just squeeze it flat.

+ Add a Comment