Pleural effusions are defined as a buildup of excess fluid between the pleura and it can occur as a consequence of a wide variety of conditions. In this episode, you’ll learn: The two types of pleural fluid Risk factors for pleural effusion Complications of pleural effusion Signs and symptoms of pleural effusion Priority assessments How pleural effusions are identified and what lab tests are conducted Treatments for pleural effusion Important patient education To review chest tube management, listen to episode 124. To dive deep into respiratory assessment, listen to episode 237. Read the article about pleural effusions and view references here. Grab the FREE Straight A Nursing LATTE template to easily create your own Med Surg study guides. Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides!     If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂 _____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider’s scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.