Adult Health 1 Exam 1 Related

Review Adult Health 1 Exam 1 related questions and content

A client who fell 20 feet from the roof of his home has multiple injuries, including a right pneumothorax. Chest tubes were inserted in the emergency department prior to his transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). The nurse observes that the suction control chamber is bubbling at the -10 cm H20 mark, with fluctuation in the water seal, and over the past hour, 75 mL of bright red blood is measured in the collection chamber. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

  • A. Increase wall suction to eliminate fluctuation in the water seal.
  • B. Give blood from the collection chamber as autotransfusion.
  • C. Add sterile water to the suction control chamber.
  • D. Manipulate blood in tubing to drain into chamber.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct intervention for the nurse to implement is to add sterile water to the suction control chamber. This action helps maintain the proper functioning of the chest tube system by regulating the negative pressure. Increasing wall suction is not recommended as it could lead to excessive negative pressure. Giving blood from the collection chamber as autotransfusion is inappropriate and poses a risk of complications such as air embolism. Manipulating blood in the tubing is also unsafe as it could introduce air into the system, increasing the risk of complications for the client.