Chest Tubes (Care & Troubleshooting)

In this lesson, we’re going to discuss what a chest tube is and how it is used to treat certain disorders of the respiratory system. We will also  talk about priority nursing interventions focused on maintaining respiratory function and preventing infections and complications both before and after chest tube insertion.

Learning Objectives:

Upon the completion of this lesson, learners will be able to:

1. Discover the function of a chest tube
2. Recognize indications for inserting a chest tube
3. Summarize priority nursing interventions while caring for a client with a chest tube
4. List potential complications of a chest tube
5. Troubleshoot basic chest tube issues