Your patient has a CMP drawn to determine their electrolytes. Only part of the values have resulted including the Na+ which is 121 mEq/l. What type of electrolyte imbalance is the patient having?

: Chest tube placement is done to remove air or fluid from the pleural space, which is the area between the lungs and the chest wall. The chest tube drainage system is an important tool to monitor and manage the drainage from the chest tube.

It is essential that the chest tube drainage system is placed below the level of the patient's chest and the site of insertion. This is necessary to create a continuous drainage system by allowing gravity to assist in the flow of air or fluid out of the pleural space. If the chest tube drainage system is placed above the insertion site, the fluid will not drain properly, which can cause the fluid to back up into the patient's chest cavity, leading to complications such as pneumothorax or hemothorax.

Therefore, the appropriate statement regarding a chest tube is that the chest tube drainage system must be placed below the site of insertion.

Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method of monitoring the oxygen saturation level in the blood. A normal range for oxygen saturation is between 95% and 100%. An oxygen saturation level of 89% indicates hypoxemia, which is a serious condition that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and even death if left untreated.

Therefore, the priority nursing action is to perform a respiratory assessment to determine the cause of the hypoxemia. This should include assessing the client's airway patency, breathing patern, lung sounds, and oxygen therapy if the client is already receiving it. The nurse should also observe for any signs of respiratory distress such as cyanosis, accessory muscle use, or difficulty breathing.

While it is important to document hypoxemia and report it to the healthcare provider, the priority at this time is to assess and intervene promptly to prevent further deterioration of the client's condition. Checking the placement of the pulse oximeter may be necessary if the reading is unreliable, but it is not the priority in this scenario.