After undergoing a left pneumonectomy, a female patient has a chest tube in place for drainage. When caring for this patient, the nurse must: (A) Monitor fluctuations in the water-seal chamber, (B) Clamp the chest tube once every shift, (C) Encourage coughing and deep breathing, (D) Milk the chest tube every 2 hours
Answer is C. When caring for a patient who is recovering from a pneumonectomy, the nurse should encourage coughing and deep breathing to prevent pneumonia in the unaffected lung.

Because the lung has been removed, the water-seal chamber should display no fluctuations. 
Reinflation is not the purpose of a chest tube.
Chest tube milking is controversial and should be done only to remove blood clots that obstruct the flow of drainage.