3 Hemothorax and Pneumothorax Nursing Care Plans

A collapsed lung happens when air (pneumothorax), blood (hemothorax), or other fluids (pleural effusion) enters the pleural space, the area between the lung and the chest wall. The intrathoracic pressure changes induced by increased pleural space volumes reduce lung capacity, causing respiratory distress and gas exchange problems and producing tension on mediastinal structures that can impede cardiac and systemic circulation. Pneumothorax may be traumatic (open or closed) or spontaneous.

Nursing Care Plans

Nursing care planning and management for patients with hemothorax or pneumothorax includes management of chest tube drainage, monitoring respiratory status, and providing supportive care.

Below are three (3) nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnosis (NDx) for patients with pneumothorax and hemothorax:

1. Ineffective Breathing Pattern
2. Risk for Trauma/Suffocation
3. Deficient Knowledge
4. Other Nursing Care Plans

See Also

You may also like the following posts and care plans:

• Nursing Care Plan: The Ultimate Guide and Database – the ultimate database of nursing care plans for different diseases and conditions! Get the complete list!
• Nursing Diagnosis: The Complete Guide and List – archive of different nursing diagnoses with their definition, related factors, goals and nursing interventions with rationale.

Respiratory Care Plans

Care plans about respiratory system disorders:

• Asthma | 8 Care Plans
• Bronchiolitis | 5 Care Plans
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) | 5+ Care Plans
• Cystic Fibrosis | 5 Care Plans
• Hemothorax and Pneumothorax | 3 Care Plans
• Influenza (Flu) | 5 Care Plans
• Lung Cancer | 5 Care Plans
• Mechanical Ventilation | 6 Care Plans
• Near-Drowning | 5 Care Plans
• Pleural Effusion | 6 Care Plans
• Pneumonia | 8+ Care Plans
• Pulmonary Embolism | 4 Care Plans
• Pulmonary Tuberculosis | 5 Care Plans
• Tracheostomy | 5 Care Plans