ATI Capstone Medical Surgical Assessment 1 Quizlet Related

Review ATI Capstone Medical Surgical Assessment 1 Quizlet related questions and content

What is the initial nursing action for a patient with a chest tube found to have an air leak?

  • A. Check the tube connections
  • B. Replace the chest tube
  • C. Remove and reinsert the chest tube
  • D. Document the incident
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: When a patient with a chest tube is found to have an air leak, the priority action for the nurse is to check the tube connections. This step helps identify the source of the air leak, which can be caused by loose or disconnected tube connections. Once the source of the leak is identified and addressed, further interventions may be necessary. Replacing or removing and reinserting the chest tube should not be the initial response unless there are specific indications for these actions. Documenting the incident is important but comes after addressing the immediate concern of the air leak.