A licensed practical nurse is caring for a client who has a closed-wound drainage system (Jackson-Pratt) in place following a mastectomy. The nurse needs to empty the device to maintain continuous negative pressure. In what order should the nurse perform the following actions? (Arrange the steps in the correct sequence.)
- 1Put on clean gloves and open the port on the drainage bulb.
- 2Empty the bulb's contents into a graduated measuring container.
- 3Squeeze the bulb completely flat to expel all air.
- 4Replace the plug securely into the port while maintaining pressure on the bulb.
- 5Measure the drainage amount at eye level and document the findings.
Answer
The correct sequence is to don gloves and open the port, empty the drainage, compress the bulb, replace the plug while the bulb is compressed, and finally measure and document the drainage.
To effectively reduce the risk of surgical site complications, a closed-wound drain must maintain constant negative pressure. The nurse first applies gloves and opens the system to empty the collected fluid. Next, the nurse must compress the bulb to expel ambient air and immediately cap it while it remains compressed. This action creates the vacuum necessary to pull exudate from the wound. Finally, the collected fluid is measured and documented to track output and monitor for abnormal bleeding or infection.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Proper maintenance of a closed-wound drainage system requires establishing a vacuum to actively pull fluid from the surgical site, reducing the risk of fluid accumulation and infection.
Estimated Time:1m 0s