SimLabSolutions Chest Tube Management Training Bundle
SimLabSolutions Chest Tube Management Training Bundle
SimLabSolutions Chest Tube Management Training Bundle
The SimLabSolutions Chest Tube Management Training Bundle was designed by the DiaMedical USA Nurse Educator to help instructors teach students how to perform assessments on patients with chest tubes, identify air leaks and other problems, and create a temporary water seal when needed.
Chest tubes are used to help keep lungs re-expanded after pneumothorax or pleural effusion. They are inserted between the lungs and the chest wall to remove air or fluid from the pleural space. Proper chest tube management is essential to prevent infection or collapse of the lung. The DiaMedical Chest Tube Management Training Bundle includes all of the equipment and supplies for educators.
Skills To Be Taught
- Respiratory assessment of the patient with a chest tube
- Normal and abnormal findings when monitoring a chest tube drainage system
- Components of the drainage collection chamber including the water seal and suction control
- Suction adjustment
- Chest tube dressing change
- Identification & management of chest tube problems
- Creation of a temporary water seal
Items Included In The Bundle
- Atrium Oasis Dry Suction Water Seal Chest Drain
- Atrium Pneumostat 30 mL Chest Drain Valve
- Straight 24 Fr x 20″ Thoracic Catheter
- Sterile Vaseline gauze
- Sterile 4 x 4 Drain sponges
- Sterile 4 x 4 gauze sponges
- Sterile ABD pads
- Paper surgical tape
- Transparent surgical tape
- Silk surgical tape
- Sterile water 500 mL bottle
- Kelly Straight Hemostatic Forceps
- 20 mL Luer lock syringes
- Incentive spirometer
- Adult Non-rebreather mask
- Adult Nasal cannula
Student/Educator Resources
- Article: Chest tube care: The more you know, the easier it gets
- Video: Demystifying chest drain management
- Video: Atrium Oasis Chest Drain setup and operation
- Video: Atrium Pneumostat Chest Drain Valve
Chest Tube Simulation
Initial Patient Setting
- Head of bed is flat
- Vital signs: T 98.5 – P 132 – RR 36 – BP 148/98 – SpO2 78%
- Blue eyeshadow can be applied to the patient’s lips if desired
- Flimsy gauze dressing over chest tube with single piece of tape
- Drainage box is tipped over
- Tubing is kinked under the patient
- Tubing connection is loosely taped together
- Apply suction if available to create bubbles in water seal
Initial Student Assessment
- Initial lung sounds – diminished on chest tube side
- Bubbles in water seal chamber – air leak
- Improper dressing over chest tube site
Initial Student Interventions
- Apply oxygen via nonrebreather mask
- Elevate the head of the bed
- Hang drainage box from the side of the bed
- Ensure chest tube is patent and coiled on bed
- Locate loose tubing connection and make airtight
- Apply appropriate dressing to chest tube insertion site (taped on 4 sides)
- Reassess lung sounds to ensure equal on both sides
- Reassess water seal chamber to ensure bubbling has stopped
Additional Student Activities
- Change suction settings at wall and drainage box
- Change drainage box
- Mark drainage level on box for intake/output recording
- Use tubing port to obtain drainage sample for lab analysis
- Use sterile water bottle to form temporary water seal after tubing is cut
- Add water to the water seal chamber
- Apply dressing after chest tube accidentally pulled out (taped on 3 sides)
- Roll tubing between fingers to break up clots/clogs
Additional Questions For Students
- How do you assess for crepitus/subcutaneous emphysema?
- How do you assess for signs of infection with dressing in place?
- What are the appropriate settings for wall suction?
- When should the chest tube be clamped?
- When should the doctor be called about problems with the chest tube?
- Why is Vaseline gauze used at the chest tube site?
- Should patients use an incentive spirometer when a chest tube is in place?
- Why should nurses avoid milking/stripping the tubing?
- What is the appropriate nursing care after the chest tube has been removed by the physician?
- Why would a small 30 mL Pneumostat valve be used rather than a large Oasis drainage box?
- What will the nurse teach the patient before being discharge with a chest tube and Pneumostat valve?