,NU 189 EXAM 3 Medical-Surgical Nursing II Questions And Answers
2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. The nurse observes fluctuation of the water level in the chest-
tube water-seal chamber during respiration. What should the nurse
do?
A) Clamp the chest tube
B) Notify the provider immediately
C) Document the finding as expected and continue monitoring
D) Prepare for chest-tube removal
Correct Answer: C) Document the finding as expected and continue
monitoring
Rationale: Tidaling, or fluctuation of the water-seal level with respiration,
generally indicates that the system is patent and responding to pressure
changes.
Q2. A client with a chest tube is suddenly disconnected from the
drainage system. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Place the end of the chest tube in sterile water
B) Clamp the chest tube for 30 minutes
C) Remove the chest tube
D) Apply an occlusive dressing over the insertion site
Correct Answer: A) Place the end of the chest tube in sterile water
Rationale: Placing the disconnected tube end in sterile water temporarily
reestablishes a water seal and helps prevent air from entering the pleural
space.
Q3. Which finding indicates a possible air leak in a chest-tube
system?
A) Tidaling with respirations
B) Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
C) Serosanguineous drainage
D) Mild discomfort at the insertion site
Correct Answer: B) Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber can indicate an air
leak in the system or from the patient.
, Q4. A chest tube becomes accidentally pulled out of the client's
chest. What should the nurse do first?
A) Place the client in high Fowler's position
B) Cover the site with a sterile occlusive dressing
C) Insert another chest tube
D) Encourage coughing
Correct Answer: B) Cover the site with a sterile occlusive dressing
Rationale: A sterile occlusive dressing helps prevent air from entering the
pleural space until the provider can evaluate and treat the complication.
Q5. Which finding is expected with a functioning chest tube
drainage system?
A) Water-seal tidaling
B) Continuous vigorous bubbling in the water seal
C) Complete absence of drainage immediately after insertion
D) Disconnection from suction
Correct Answer: A) Water-seal tidaling
Rationale: Tidaling reflects pressure changes transmitted through a patent
chest-tube system.
Q6. The chest-tube drainage system becomes full. What should the
nurse do?
A) Clamp the tube permanently
B) Replace the drainage system using sterile technique
C) Strip the tubing vigorously
D) Remove the chest tube
Correct Answer: B) Replace the drainage system using sterile technique
Rationale: A full collection chamber can interfere with drainage and should
be replaced according to facility procedure while maintaining system
integrity.
Q7. Which action should the nurse avoid when caring for a chest
tube?
A) Keeping the drainage system below chest level
B) Monitoring drainage
2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. The nurse observes fluctuation of the water level in the chest-
tube water-seal chamber during respiration. What should the nurse
do?
A) Clamp the chest tube
B) Notify the provider immediately
C) Document the finding as expected and continue monitoring
D) Prepare for chest-tube removal
Correct Answer: C) Document the finding as expected and continue
monitoring
Rationale: Tidaling, or fluctuation of the water-seal level with respiration,
generally indicates that the system is patent and responding to pressure
changes.
Q2. A client with a chest tube is suddenly disconnected from the
drainage system. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Place the end of the chest tube in sterile water
B) Clamp the chest tube for 30 minutes
C) Remove the chest tube
D) Apply an occlusive dressing over the insertion site
Correct Answer: A) Place the end of the chest tube in sterile water
Rationale: Placing the disconnected tube end in sterile water temporarily
reestablishes a water seal and helps prevent air from entering the pleural
space.
Q3. Which finding indicates a possible air leak in a chest-tube
system?
A) Tidaling with respirations
B) Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
C) Serosanguineous drainage
D) Mild discomfort at the insertion site
Correct Answer: B) Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber can indicate an air
leak in the system or from the patient.
, Q4. A chest tube becomes accidentally pulled out of the client's
chest. What should the nurse do first?
A) Place the client in high Fowler's position
B) Cover the site with a sterile occlusive dressing
C) Insert another chest tube
D) Encourage coughing
Correct Answer: B) Cover the site with a sterile occlusive dressing
Rationale: A sterile occlusive dressing helps prevent air from entering the
pleural space until the provider can evaluate and treat the complication.
Q5. Which finding is expected with a functioning chest tube
drainage system?
A) Water-seal tidaling
B) Continuous vigorous bubbling in the water seal
C) Complete absence of drainage immediately after insertion
D) Disconnection from suction
Correct Answer: A) Water-seal tidaling
Rationale: Tidaling reflects pressure changes transmitted through a patent
chest-tube system.
Q6. The chest-tube drainage system becomes full. What should the
nurse do?
A) Clamp the tube permanently
B) Replace the drainage system using sterile technique
C) Strip the tubing vigorously
D) Remove the chest tube
Correct Answer: B) Replace the drainage system using sterile technique
Rationale: A full collection chamber can interfere with drainage and should
be replaced according to facility procedure while maintaining system
integrity.
Q7. Which action should the nurse avoid when caring for a chest
tube?
A) Keeping the drainage system below chest level
B) Monitoring drainage
