2026-10-14 from theglobeandmail.com
For a new nurse, putting in a chest tube for the first time can be a challenging task.
Mary Russell, a nurse from Oakville, Ont., remembers her first time well. The procedure, which involves inserting a plastic tube through the chest wall to drain air, fluid or blood around the lungs, requires careful technique. But Ms. Russell had a leg up due to a clinical mentorship program, which included time to practice under the guidance of an experienced nurse.
“The very next day, I had a patient who needed a chest tube. I remember thinking, ‘Wait a minute, this isn’t nearly as scary,” said Ms. Russell, who recently started her career at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.
“I knew exactly what I needed, and it all just went so much smoother. You don’t want the first time you do something to be in a real, high-pressure situation, and this kind of hands-on learning makes all the difference.”
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