RN Exam Practice
Reduction of Risk PotentialQuestion 1914 of 2368

Chest tube drainage that was steady stops suddenly 12 hours after insertion. Which action should the nurse take first?

  1. Strip the tubing toward the collection chamber
  2. Clamp the tubing close to the insertion site
  3. Inspect for kinks and straighten the tubing along its length
  4. Raise the drainage unit above the client's chest
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Correct answer: Inspect for kinks and straighten the tubing along its length

Sudden stopping in the first 24 hours may mean a clot or a fluid blockage in a loop. Kinks are checked and the client is positioned upright.

Source: Nursing Advanced Skills (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Manage Chest Tube Drainage Systems: TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEMS AND COMPLICATIONS. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Reduction of Risk Potential"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026