Surgical Drain Management (Nursing)

There are many types of drains that patients can have. A drain can be placed anywhere in the body. Some drains are placed for fluid, normally in a given cavity, such as a urinary catheter in the bladder. Other drains are placed under the skin or in the chest cavity to drain fluids or other material during pathologic conditions or postsurgically.

In this course, you’ll learn about the basic steps required to care for and manage drains, like how to maintain cleanliness and account for drainage output. You’ll also learn about specific drains like the Jackson-Pratt drain and the Hemovac.

It’s important to know how drains work, how to troubleshoot them in clinical settings, and how to spot changes in drainage color, consistency, or volume.