RN Exam Practice
Physiological AdaptationQuestion 1917 of 2368

A client with a pneumothorax has a chest tube. Which finding best suggests a developing tension pneumothorax?

  1. Rising water level with inhalation in the water seal chamber
  2. Falling blood pressure with the trachea shifted to the unaffected side
  3. Gentle bubbling in the suction control chamber
  4. Small amount of serosanguineous drainage
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Correct answer: Falling blood pressure with the trachea shifted to the unaffected side

Rising thoracic pressure lowers cardiac output and blood pressure and shifts the trachea to the unaffected side. The other findings are expected.

Source: Nursing Advanced Skills (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Manage Chest Tube Drainage Systems: Pleural Disorders and Indications for Chest Tubes. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Physiological Adaptation"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026