Free Medical Surgical Certification Practice Questions Related

Review Free Medical Surgical Certification Practice Questions related questions and content

A client has a mediastinal chest tube. Which symptom requires the nurse's immediate intervention?

  • A. Production of pink sputum
  • B. Tracheal deviation
  • C. Drainage greater than 70 mL/hr
  • D. Sudden onset of shortness of breath
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Tracheal deviation. Tracheal deviation indicates a tension pneumothorax, a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate intervention to prevent respiratory compromise. The other choices are incorrect because:
A: Production of pink sputum may indicate bleeding but does not require immediate intervention unless severe.
C: Drainage greater than 70 mL/hr may indicate a potential issue with the chest tube, but it does not require immediate intervention unless accompanied by other symptoms.
D: Sudden onset of shortness of breath is concerning but not as immediately life-threatening as tracheal deviation in this context.