What activities can the registered nurse perform when caring for a patient with a chest tube?

It is within the scope of practice of the appropriately prepared and competent registered nurse to perform the following tasks related to chest tube care under the direction of an authorized health care practitioner, following clinical practice standards:

• Chest tube insertion site are and dressing change;
• Clamp the tube in an emergency;
• Administer medications via a chest tube;
• Monitor patency of the draining system;
• Removing a chest tube (including pleural and mediastinal);
• Change bottles and/or disposable collection system; or
• Manipulate, advance, irrigate, milk, or remove a chest tube.