Caring for a Jackson-Pratt Drain

Goal: The drain is patent and intact.

1. Review the medical orders for wound care or the nursing plan of care related to wound/drain care.

2. Gather the necessary supplies and bring to the bedside stand or overbed table.

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

4. Identify the patient.

5. Close curtains around bed and close door to room if possible. Explain what you are going to do and why you are going to do it to the patient.

6. Assess the patient for possible need for nonpharmacologic pain-reducing interventions or analgesic medication before wound care dressing change. Administer appropriate prescribed analgesic. Allow enough time for analgesic to achieve its effectiveness before beginning procedure.

7. Place a waste receptacle at a convenient location for use during the procedure.

8. Adjust bed to comfortable working height, usually elbow height of the caregiver (VISN 8, 2009).

9. Assist the patient to a comfortable position that provides easy access to the drain and/or wound area. Use a bath blanket to cover any exposed area other than the wound. Place a waterproof pad under the wound site.

10. Put on clean gloves; put on mask or face shield if indicated.

11. Place the graduated collection container under the outlet of the drain. Without contaminating the outlet valve, pull the cap off. The chamber will expand completely as it draws in air. Empty the chamber’s contents completely into the container. Use the gauze pad to clean the outlet. Fully compress the chamber with one hand and replace the cap with your other hand.

12. Check the patency of the equipment. Make sure the tubing is free from twists and kinks.

13. Secure the Jackson-Pratt drain to the patient’s gown below the wound with a safety pin, making sure that there is no tension on the tubing.

14. Carefully measure and record the character, color, and amount of the drainage. Discard the drainage according to facility policy. Remove gloves.

15. Put on clean gloves. If the drain site has a dressing, redress the site as outlined in Skill 8-8. Include cleaning of the sutures with the gauze pad moistened with normal saline. Dry sutures with gauze before applying new dressing.

16. If the drain site is open to air, observe the sutures that secure the drain to the skin. Look for signs of pulling, tearing, swelling, or infection of the surrounding skin. Gently clean the sutures with the gauze pad moistened with normal saline. Dry with a new gauze pad. Apply skin protectant to the surrounding skin if needed.

17. Remove and discard gloves. Remove all remaining equipment; place the patient in a comfortable position, with side rails up and bed in the lowest position.

18. Remove additional PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.

19. Check drain status at least every four hours. Check all wound dressings every shift. More frequent checks may be needed if the wound is more complex or dressings become saturated quickly.