Assisting With Removal of a Chest Tube

Goal: The chest tube is removed with minimal discomfort to the patient and the patient remains free of respiratory distress.

1. Bring necessary equipment to the bedside stand or overbed table.

2. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.

3. Identify the patient.

4. Administer pain medication, as prescribed. Premedicate patient before the chest tube removal, at a sufficient interval to allow for the medication to take effect, based on the medication prescribed.

5. Close curtains around bed and close the door to the room, if possible.

6. Explain what you are going to do and the reason for doing it to the patient. Explain any nonpharmacologic pain interventions the patient may use to decrease discomfort during tube removal.

7. Put on clean gloves.

8. Provide reassurance to the patient while the physician removes the dressing and then the tube.

9. After physician has removed chest tube and secured the occlusive dressing, assess patient’s lung sounds, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and pain level.

10. Anticipate the physician ordering a chest x-ray.

11. Dispose of equipment appropriately.

12. Remove gloves and additional PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.