NURSING CARE PRINCIPLES FOR PATIENTS WITH TUBES

HAVE AN OVERVIEW OF NURSING CARE PRINCIPLES              FOR PATIENTS WITH TUBES

In the NCLEX-RN, some questions deal with the principles which are essential in providing nursing care to patients with tubes.

Here are the most commonly asked tubes in NCLEX-RN and some nursing alert.

CANTOR TUBE
	PURPOSE:Used for intestinal drainage. NURSING ALERT:It’s a balloon is injected with 4 to 5 ml of mercury before insertion of the tube.
CHEST TUBES
	PURPOSE:Allows air and fluid to drain from the pleural space. NURSING ALERT:Fluid fluctuation in the water seal chamber will stop when the lung has re expanded. Keep two hemostats at the bed side so that the chest tube can be clamped if the system becomes disconnected or broken. Sterile water should be used in the water seal chamber.
HEMOVAC
	PURPOSE:Used to maintain constant drainage from the wound and to prevent pressure on skin flaps. NURSING ALERT:Edema at the insertion site indicates that hematoma is developing. The tubing is milked away from the patient; every 1 to 2 hours for the first 24 hours post operatively and then every 4 hours and as needed.
JACKSON-PRATTS DRAIN
	PURPOSE:Used for wound drainage. NURSING ALERT:Maintain the negative suction of the system by compressing the reservoir before attaching it to the tubing.
SALEM SUMP TUBE&LEVINE TUBE
SALEM SUMP TUBE		LEVINE TUBE
PURPOSE:Used to evacuate air and fluid from the stomach. NURSING ALERT:		PURPOSE:Used for suctioning gastric drainage. It has a second lumen for air entry that keeps the gastric lining from occluding the drainage hole. NURSING ALERT:Requires frequent irrigation to maintain patency. It is a double lumen tube.
MILLER-ABOTT TUBE
		PURPOSE:Used for intestinal drainage and irrigation. NURSING ALERT:It is a double lumen tube. One lumen leads to the balloon, which is filled with mercury after it has been inserted; the second lumen has opening for drainage and irrigation.
SENGSTAKEN-BLAKEMORE TUBE
		PURPOSE:Used to apply pressure to stop bleeding from esophageal varices. NURSING ALERT:The esophageal balloon can be left inflated for up to 48 hours without tissue damage or severe discomfort. Keep a pair of scissors at the bedside. Gently suction the mouth and throat if patient is too weak to expectorate secretions.
THREE-WAY FOLEY CATHETER
		PURPOSE:Used to drain the bladder. NURSING ALERT:It is changed when it is in danger of becoming obstructed by sediments within its lumen. Strict asepsis must be practiced during insertion and in assembling the drainage equipment.