Nurses’ Knowledge Levels of Chest Drain Management: A Descriptive Study (original) (raw)

2017, Eurasian Journal of Pulmonology

INTRODUCTION Chest drainage is defined as discharging air, water, blood, and other fluids by inserting a tube into the pleural or mediastinal cavity. Chest drainage is generally used in the treatment of patients who have undergone heart and chest surgery or chest trauma (1). Chest drainage is an invasive operation; insufficient knowledge and experience of the healthcare team may lead to unwanted complications (2). The mismanagement of chest drainage may cause series of complications such as increased morbidity, extension of duration of hospital stay, and even death in some cases (3). The insertion of a chest tube in a patient using the aseptic technique is the physician's responsibility. However, as long as the chest tube is kept inserted, the nurses' responsibilities include (i) monitoring the drainage bottle and suction level, (ii) recording the quantity and content of drainage, (iii) administering wound care and follow-up of pain, and (iv) providing information and support to the patient (4). The applications involving these aspects of nursing in the management of patients with chest tubes are inconsistent, which leads to distrust regarding nurses during patient care (5).

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