Safety and Infection ControlQuestion 1921 of 2368
A chest drainage unit tips over, and the client is stable. Which action should the nurse take?
- Clamp the chest tube and leave the unit on its side
- Position it upright and check the water seal fluid level
- Discard the unit and use a new one without checking
- Strip the tubing to move fluid back into the unit
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Correct answer: Position it upright and check the water seal fluid level
After righting the unit, check the water seal for the correct volume and replace lost fluid. Replace the unit only if all chambers are contaminated with blood.
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 "Safety and Infection Control"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026