ATI Chest Tube Care: Complete Study Guide for Nursing Students |
Chest Drainage System Management, Assessment, Troubleshooting,
NCLEX & NGN Practice Questions, Nursing Interventions, Safety
Precautions, Documentation Tips, Complications, and ATI Exam
Success Review
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a chest tube inserted following a
pneumothorax. What is the primary purpose of the chest tube?
• A. To administer medications directly into the pleural space
• B. To drain air, fluid, or blood from the pleural space to re-expand the lung
• C. To provide a route for nutritional support
• D. To measure intrapleural pressure continuously
Answer: B
Rationale: The primary purpose of a chest tube is to drain air, fluid, or blood from
the pleural space, which helps re-establish negative pressure and allows the lung
to re-expand. Chest tubes are not used for medication administration, nutritional
support, or continuous pressure monitoring.
2. A client is scheduled for chest tube insertion following thoracic surgery.
Which of the following is an expected indication for chest tube placement?
• A. Administration of chemotherapy
• B. Drainage of pleural effusion
• C. Delivery of oxygen directly to the lungs
• D. Measurement of cardiac output
Answer: B
Rationale: Chest tubes are indicated for drainage of air (pneumothorax), fluid
(pleural effusion), blood (hemothorax), chyle, or infectious material from the
,pleural space. They are not used for chemotherapy administration, oxygen
delivery, or cardiac output measurement.
3. A nurse is preparing a client for chest tube insertion. Which of the following
conditions would most likely require chest tube placement?
• A. Asthma exacerbation
• B. Pneumothorax
• C. Bronchitis
• D. Pulmonary embolism
Answer: B
Rationale: A pneumothorax (collapsed lung) is a primary indication for chest tube
insertion. Asthma, bronchitis, and pulmonary embolism are managed with other
interventions and do not typically require chest tube placement.
4. The nurse understands that chest tubes are inserted for which of the
following reasons? (Select all that apply)
• A. To drain blood from the pleural space
• B. To re-expand the lung
• C. To administer IV fluids
• D. To drain air from the pleural space
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: Chest tubes are inserted to drain blood and fluid, re-expand the lung,
and drain air from the pleural space. They are not used for IV fluid administration.
5. A client has a chest tube inserted following a motor vehicle accident with
suspected hemothorax. The nurse understands that the chest tube is primarily
intended to:
, • A. Prevent infection
• B. Drain accumulated blood from the pleural space
• C. Provide pain relief
• D. Monitor intracranial pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: In a hemothorax, blood accumulates in the pleural space, and a chest
tube is inserted to drain this blood. Chest tubes do not prevent infection, provide
pain relief, or monitor intracranial pressure.
6. Which of the following is the most common reason for chest tube insertion
following cardiac surgery?
• A. To administer cardiac medications
• B. To drain blood and fluid from the mediastinal and pleural spaces
• C. To provide continuous cardiac monitoring
• D. To deliver nutrition
Answer: B
Rationale: Following cardiac surgery, chest tubes are placed to drain blood and
fluid from the mediastinal and pleural spaces to prevent tamponade and promote
healing.
7. A client with a pleural effusion is scheduled for chest tube insertion. The
nurse explains that the chest tube will:
• A. Remove fluid from the pleural space to allow lung re-expansion
• B. Instill medication into the pleural space
• C. Measure the amount of fluid in the pleural space
• D. Prevent all future fluid accumulation
, Answer: A
Rationale: For a pleural effusion, a chest tube is inserted to drain fluid from the
pleural space, allowing the lung to re-expand. Chest tubes are not used to instill
medication or permanently prevent fluid accumulation.
8. The nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube inserted for a spontaneous
pneumothorax. The nurse identifies that the chest tube is placed:
• A. High in the pleural space to drain air
• B. Low in the pleural space to drain fluid
• C. In the mediastinum
• D. In the pericardial space
Answer: A
Rationale: The mnemonic "air rises and fluid falls" guides chest tube placement.
For a pneumothorax (air), the tube is placed high in the pleural space. For fluid,
the tube is placed lower.
9. A client who had a lobectomy has a chest tube in place. The nurse
understands that the chest tube is necessary to:
• A. Prevent the development of a tension pneumothorax
• B. Drain air and fluid, and promote lung re-expansion
• C. Administer postoperative antibiotics
• D. Monitor respiratory rate
Answer: B
Rationale: Following a lobectomy, a chest tube is placed to drain air and fluid
from the pleural space and promote re-expansion of the remaining lung tissue.
Chest Drainage System Management, Assessment, Troubleshooting,
NCLEX & NGN Practice Questions, Nursing Interventions, Safety
Precautions, Documentation Tips, Complications, and ATI Exam
Success Review
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a chest tube inserted following a
pneumothorax. What is the primary purpose of the chest tube?
• A. To administer medications directly into the pleural space
• B. To drain air, fluid, or blood from the pleural space to re-expand the lung
• C. To provide a route for nutritional support
• D. To measure intrapleural pressure continuously
Answer: B
Rationale: The primary purpose of a chest tube is to drain air, fluid, or blood from
the pleural space, which helps re-establish negative pressure and allows the lung
to re-expand. Chest tubes are not used for medication administration, nutritional
support, or continuous pressure monitoring.
2. A client is scheduled for chest tube insertion following thoracic surgery.
Which of the following is an expected indication for chest tube placement?
• A. Administration of chemotherapy
• B. Drainage of pleural effusion
• C. Delivery of oxygen directly to the lungs
• D. Measurement of cardiac output
Answer: B
Rationale: Chest tubes are indicated for drainage of air (pneumothorax), fluid
(pleural effusion), blood (hemothorax), chyle, or infectious material from the
,pleural space. They are not used for chemotherapy administration, oxygen
delivery, or cardiac output measurement.
3. A nurse is preparing a client for chest tube insertion. Which of the following
conditions would most likely require chest tube placement?
• A. Asthma exacerbation
• B. Pneumothorax
• C. Bronchitis
• D. Pulmonary embolism
Answer: B
Rationale: A pneumothorax (collapsed lung) is a primary indication for chest tube
insertion. Asthma, bronchitis, and pulmonary embolism are managed with other
interventions and do not typically require chest tube placement.
4. The nurse understands that chest tubes are inserted for which of the
following reasons? (Select all that apply)
• A. To drain blood from the pleural space
• B. To re-expand the lung
• C. To administer IV fluids
• D. To drain air from the pleural space
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: Chest tubes are inserted to drain blood and fluid, re-expand the lung,
and drain air from the pleural space. They are not used for IV fluid administration.
5. A client has a chest tube inserted following a motor vehicle accident with
suspected hemothorax. The nurse understands that the chest tube is primarily
intended to:
, • A. Prevent infection
• B. Drain accumulated blood from the pleural space
• C. Provide pain relief
• D. Monitor intracranial pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: In a hemothorax, blood accumulates in the pleural space, and a chest
tube is inserted to drain this blood. Chest tubes do not prevent infection, provide
pain relief, or monitor intracranial pressure.
6. Which of the following is the most common reason for chest tube insertion
following cardiac surgery?
• A. To administer cardiac medications
• B. To drain blood and fluid from the mediastinal and pleural spaces
• C. To provide continuous cardiac monitoring
• D. To deliver nutrition
Answer: B
Rationale: Following cardiac surgery, chest tubes are placed to drain blood and
fluid from the mediastinal and pleural spaces to prevent tamponade and promote
healing.
7. A client with a pleural effusion is scheduled for chest tube insertion. The
nurse explains that the chest tube will:
• A. Remove fluid from the pleural space to allow lung re-expansion
• B. Instill medication into the pleural space
• C. Measure the amount of fluid in the pleural space
• D. Prevent all future fluid accumulation
, Answer: A
Rationale: For a pleural effusion, a chest tube is inserted to drain fluid from the
pleural space, allowing the lung to re-expand. Chest tubes are not used to instill
medication or permanently prevent fluid accumulation.
8. The nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube inserted for a spontaneous
pneumothorax. The nurse identifies that the chest tube is placed:
• A. High in the pleural space to drain air
• B. Low in the pleural space to drain fluid
• C. In the mediastinum
• D. In the pericardial space
Answer: A
Rationale: The mnemonic "air rises and fluid falls" guides chest tube placement.
For a pneumothorax (air), the tube is placed high in the pleural space. For fluid,
the tube is placed lower.
9. A client who had a lobectomy has a chest tube in place. The nurse
understands that the chest tube is necessary to:
• A. Prevent the development of a tension pneumothorax
• B. Drain air and fluid, and promote lung re-expansion
• C. Administer postoperative antibiotics
• D. Monitor respiratory rate
Answer: B
Rationale: Following a lobectomy, a chest tube is placed to drain air and fluid
from the pleural space and promote re-expansion of the remaining lung tissue.
