ACTIVE LEARNING TEMPLATE: Nursing Skill
Christyle Brown
STUDENT NAME _____________________________________
Chest Tubes
SKILL NAME____________________________________________________________________________ REVIEW MODULE CHAPTER ___________
Description of Skill
The plastic tube enters the side of the patient's chest to remove blood, air, or fluid from around the heart and
lungs. The lung contains two tissue layers called pleura that contain fluid that assists the lungs with helping
patients breathe. It works by expanding the lungs
CONSIDERATIONS
Indications
-Pneumothorax
Nursing Interventions (pre, intra, post)
-Hemothorax
-Pleural effusion Never lift drain above chest level, the unit
-Empyema and all tubing should be below patient
-Chylothorax schest level to make sure that it is draining,
make sure no kinks in the tubing and no
obstructions, make sure everything is
connected correctly
Outcomes/Evaluation
Client Education
The patient will be able to breathe better and
their lungs will be able to better expand Make sure the patient knows how to care for
the site of insertion while it is in place and
after it is taken out. Also make sure patient
knows all the restrictions that they have
Potential Complications Nursing Interventions
-Malpositioning and empyema Never lift drain above the chest level, mark
-Organ rupture, and problems arising after the level of the chest tube where it enters
removal such as recurrent pneumothorax the body to make sure that it does not move
and tension pneumothorax and keep it below the level of the the chest
at all times
ACTIVE LEARNING TEMPLATES
Christyle Brown
STUDENT NAME _____________________________________
Chest Tubes
SKILL NAME____________________________________________________________________________ REVIEW MODULE CHAPTER ___________
Description of Skill
The plastic tube enters the side of the patient's chest to remove blood, air, or fluid from around the heart and
lungs. The lung contains two tissue layers called pleura that contain fluid that assists the lungs with helping
patients breathe. It works by expanding the lungs
CONSIDERATIONS
Indications
-Pneumothorax
Nursing Interventions (pre, intra, post)
-Hemothorax
-Pleural effusion Never lift drain above chest level, the unit
-Empyema and all tubing should be below patient
-Chylothorax schest level to make sure that it is draining,
make sure no kinks in the tubing and no
obstructions, make sure everything is
connected correctly
Outcomes/Evaluation
Client Education
The patient will be able to breathe better and
their lungs will be able to better expand Make sure the patient knows how to care for
the site of insertion while it is in place and
after it is taken out. Also make sure patient
knows all the restrictions that they have
Potential Complications Nursing Interventions
-Malpositioning and empyema Never lift drain above the chest level, mark
-Organ rupture, and problems arising after the level of the chest tube where it enters
removal such as recurrent pneumothorax the body to make sure that it does not move
and tension pneumothorax and keep it below the level of the the chest
at all times
ACTIVE LEARNING TEMPLATES
