Critical Care/Vent Management

Critical Care/Vent managment To verify the correct placement of an endotracheal tube (ET) after insertion, the best initial action by the nurse is to a. auscultate for the presence of bilateral bre at h sounds. b. obtain a portable chest radiograph to check tube placement. c. observe the chest for symmetrical movement with ventilation. d. use an end-tidal CO2 monitor to check for placement in the trachea. - ANS: D End-tidal CO2 monitors are currently recommended for rapid verification of ET placement. Auscultation for bilateral breath sounds and checking chest expansion also are used, but they are not as accurate as end-tidal CO2 monitoring. A chest x-ray confirms the placement but is done after the tube is secured. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity To inflate the cuff of an endotrac