Saunders Respiratory Practice 2025 - Free Respiratory Practice Questions and Study Guide

When a chest tube disconnects while repositioning a client, the most immediate action should be to reattach the chest tube to the drainage system. This is critical because the chest tube is responsible for removing air or fluid from the pleural space, and disconnecting it can lead to a buildup of air or fluid, resulting in potential respiratory distress or complications for the patient.

Reattaching the chest tube helps to restore the function of the drainage system immediately, allowing for the continuous removal of any accumulated air or fluid in the pleural cavity. This action helps prevent complications such as a tension pneumothorax or other significant respiratory issues, which can arise quickly when proper drainage is interrupted.

While covering the site with a dressing and notifying the physician are important steps to take after reestablishing drainage, they do not address the urgent need to restore effective drainage first. Providing pain relief can also be considered, but it is not the priority in this emergency situation where immediate action is crucial for patient safety.