A nurse is assessing a client who is 1 day postoperative following a lobectomy and has a chest tube drainage system in place. Which of the following findings by the nurse indicates a need for intervention?

Choice A reason: Take isoniazid with an antacid. This answer is incorrect because taking isoniazid with an antacid can reduce the absorption and effectiveness of the drug. Isoniazid should be taken on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after meals.

Choice B reason: Drink at least 8 ounces of water when you take the pyrazinamide tablet. This answer is incorrect because drinking water with pyrazinamide is not necessary, as this drug does not cause dehydration or kidney problems. However, drinking plenty of fluids is generally recommended for clients with tuberculosis to prevent dehydration and help clear the lungs of secretions.

Choice C reason: Expect your sputum cultures to be negative after 6 months of therapy. This answer is incorrect because expecting sputum cultures to be negative after 6 months of therapy is unrealistic and misleading. The duration of treatment for tuberculosis varies depending on the type and extent of the infection, the drug regimen, and the client's response to the therapy. Some clients may need longer than 6 months to achieve negative sputum cultures.

Choice D reason: Provide a sputum specimen every 2 weeks to the clinic for testing. This answer is correct because providing sputum specimens regularly is important to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment and to determine when the client is no longer infectious.

Choice A reason: Repositioning the client toward the left side is not necessary or helpful for a client who has a three-chamber closed chest tube system. The chest tube drainage system must always be placed below the drainage site and secured in an upright position to prevent it from being knocked over.

Choice B reason: Continuing to monitor the client is the appropriate action for the nurse to take after noticing a rise in the water seal chamber with client inspiration. The water in the water seal chamber should rise with inhalation and fall with exhalation (this is called tidaling), which demonstrates that the chest tube is patent. This is a normal finding and does not indicate a problem with the chest tube system or the client's condition.

Choice C reason: Clamping the chest tube near the water seal is not recommended for a client who has a three-chamber closed chest tube system. Clamping the chest tube can cause a buildup of air or fluid in the pleural space and increase the risk of complications such as tension pneumothorax or infection. Clamping the chest tube should only be done in certain situations, such as changing the drainage system, checking for an air leak, or removing the chest tube.

Choice D reason: Immediately notifying the provider is not necessary for a client who has a three-chamber closed chest tube system and shows a rise in the water seal chamber with client inspiration. As mentioned above, this is a normal finding and does not indicate a problem with the chest tube system or the client's condition. The nurse should only notify the provider if there are signs of complications, such as continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber, excessive drainage, chest pain, dyspnea, or subcutaneous emphysema.