The nurse is monitoring a client following a lung resection. The hourly output from the chest tube was 300mL. The nurse should give priority to:
A. Turning the client to the left side
B. Milking the tube to ensure patency
C. Slowing the intravenous infusion
D. Notifying the physician
Correct Answer: D. Notifying the physician
The output of 300 mL is indicative of hemorrhage and should be reported immediately.
Option A: Turning the client to the left side does nothing to help the client.
Options B and C: Milking the tube is done only with an order and will not help in this situation, and slowing the intravenous infusion is not an appropriate action.