please help, give me basics on chest tubes

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Specializes in MRDD, HOME HEALTH AND MOST RECENTLY MEDS.

I was given a patient with a chest tube on our basic med surg floor the other night , I am a new R.N. grad and really not that comfortable with chest tubes and really was none of the other nurses on my floor , because it is a rare thing. I had the policy and procedure manual on chest tubes , which I reviewed but it was not very easy to understand, can someone with more knowledge help me with this or tell me of a good website I could go to that explains it. thanks!!!!:confused:

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

Ax- the site and drng; the color and amount. Make sure the all remains connected. Should have clamps at bedside in case of tubing coming apart you would need to clamp immediately and call physician. Check for airleak, usually by having patient cough and watch for bubbles, it depends on the cannister. IF you remember the name of the cannister you can google it.

hope this helps.

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Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.

Hi,check the site,the dressing should be occlusive,usually with vaseline guaze underneath regular gauze and much tape. Tape should be anchored to pt fairly well(usually is by whoever inserts it so tube doesn't pull out. Check the chambers,there are usually 3 in a pleurevac,the drainage,water seal and suction control chamber. Monitor the drainage chamber for amount and type of drainage,make sure that it's been marked in the last 12 hours for amount. The water seal should fluctuate with pt resp and there should be no bubbling in this chamber,if there is it is an air leak and the dr would need to be notified,it means the system is not air tight. The third is the suction control chamber and it is filled with sterile h20 to a set line which is usually to 20 cm h2o suction(which is the actual pressure from the fluid chamber). The wall suction is separate,the wall suction can be off(if ordered) but the chest will still be to 20cm suction as long as the right amount of fluid is in the suction control chamber. It would be easier to show in person,they are a bit scary but once you are familiar with them they aren't that difficult.

http://www.teleflexmedical.com/pleurevac/pe.html

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http://www.icufaqs.com has a good section on chest tubes i believe
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Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.

actually this is the link

http://www.icufaqs.org/

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whoops sorry i was trying to think of it off the top of my head by memory! its a great website !

actually this is the link

http://www.icufaqs.org/

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I was given a patient with a chest tube on our basic med surg floor the other night , I am a new R.N. grad and really not that comfortable with chest tubes and really was none of the other nurses on my floor , because it is a rare thing. I had the policy and procedure manual on chest tubes , which I reviewed but it was not very easy to understand, can someone with more knowledge help me with this or tell me of a good website I could go to that explains it. thanks!!!!:confused:

If you can't take care of a chest tube, then you should refuse the assignment. If you can't do it, refuse it and learn, and then later take the patients. Hope the info given helps you out in the future.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

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Atrium has a competency you can take online. It's very thorough. It's at www.atriumU.com and then click on the second tab, CEU.

Don't be scared, chest tubes are not difficult and once you take care of a few, it will be a breeze.

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