RN Exam Practice
Safety and Infection ControlQuestion 1912 of 2368

A client with a chest tube must go to another department for a test. How should the nurse manage the drainage system?

  1. Disconnect the suction tubing from the suction source; do not clamp the tube
  2. Clamp the chest tube close to the client's chest and leave suction off
  3. Clamp the tube and keep the suction connected to the portable source
  4. Lift the system above the level of the chest for the entire transport
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Correct answer: Disconnect the suction tubing from the suction source; do not clamp the tube

The system keeps collecting fluid by gravity and air by water seal when suction is disconnected. Clamping risks tension pneumothorax.

Source: Nursing Advanced Skills (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Manage Chest Tube Drainage Systems: Monitoring and Interventions Throughout the Shift. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Safety and Infection Control"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026