title: Chest tube removal after cardiac surgery.
abstract: Prompt remove of chest tubes by RNs has allowed earlier and more aggressive ambulation of our patients and, along with other interventions, has decreased length of stay by 1.5 days while improving quality of care. Proper education, both didactic and clinical, is the key component in preparing RNs to safely and effectively perform this procedure.
authors.affiliation: North Carolina Baptist Hospitals, Inc, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maxwell
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000451:nursing*; D015505:Chest Tubes / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013536:Suture Techniques