What is an important nursing action for a client with a chest tube?

Monitoring for tidaling in the water seal chamber is crucial for assessing the function of a chest tube. Tidaling refers to the normal fluctuation in the water level of the chamber corresponding to the patient’s respiratory cycle—rising during inhalation and falling during exhalation. This movement indicates that the chest tube is patent and properly functioning, allowing for fluid or air to escape from the pleural space.

If tidaling is absent, it could signify a blockage or that the lung has re-expanded, both of which require further assessment and possible intervention. Therefore, recognizing the normal patterns of tidaling is an important nursing action that helps to ensure the chest tubes are performing their intended function effectively.