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INSTITUTE OF NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Nursing Procedure Checklist

Assisting in Thoracentesis

Purpose/s

• Therapeutic thoracentesis removes accumulated fluid or air that causes

compression and respiratory distress.
• Diagnostic purpose – determines the cause of infection or empyema

Material and Equipment

• THORACENTESIS SET
o Syringe (10cc- 20cc)
o Trocar or 5 – 10 cc syringe
o Test tube or sterile specimen bottle
o Sterile OS
o Sterile Drape sheet

• SKIN TRAY WITH THE FOLLOWING:

o Antiseptic Solution (Betadine 10%)
o Alcohol swabs
o Sterile Cotton Balls
o Sterile pick-up forcep
o Pack of sterile OS
o Adhesive plaster
o Lidocaine 2%

Timeframe: 2-3 minutes

Instruction: Mark check () for box which the student was able to perform with competence
and (x) for not.

Not
No. Procedure Performed Remarks
Performed

1 Obtain informed consent

2 Prepare equipment.

3 Explain the procedure.

4 Position the patient upright while leaning over the

tray table.
5 Alternately, place the client in recumbent position
with the arms resting under the head.

6 Expose the area to be punctured.

7 Paint the area with antiseptic solution around the
site to be punctured starting from the center
going outward in a circular motion. Repeat 3x
then drape.
 2

8 Hand gloves to the physician.

9 Open the sterile thoracentesis and assist with
injection of anesthetic agent.
10 Instruct the client to hold still during the
procedure.
11 Assist the physician in inserting the needle
between the ribs through the intercostals muscles
and fascial and into the pleura.

12 During procedure, client’s reaction is observed

often.
13 Hand test tube to physician for fluid/specimen
collection. When enough specimen is collected,
the physician withdraws the needle and sterile
dressing is applied over the needle of puncture.
14 After procedure, turn client to the unaffected side
for 1 hour.
15 Monitor Respiratory Rate, character and breath
sounds.
16 Record amount of fluid withdrawn and submit for
analysis as ordered with proper labels.
Evaluation

s Total Number of Items Performed

(Student’s
Signature)

Comments/Suggestion for Further Improvements

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Name and Signature of Supervising Faculty