The nurse is checking the placement of a nasogastric tube prior to giving medication and a feeding. Which of the following is the preferred and most accurate method of testing? (A)... The nurse is checking the placement of a nasogastric tube prior to giving medication and a feeding. Which of the following is the preferred and most accurate method of testing? (A) Insert 15 to 20 cc of water into the stomach and listen with the stethoscope. (B) Place an open end of the tube into a glass of water and check for bubbles. (C) Aspirate 20 to 30 ml of gastrointestinal secretions and test the pH. (D) Insert 5 to 20 mm of air into the tube while listening over the stomach with a stethoscope.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the most accurate method for checking the placement of a nasogastric tube before administering medication and feeding. It presents four possible methods to test the placement.
Answer
Aspirate secretions and test the pH.
The most accurate and preferred method for testing the placement of a nasogastric tube is by aspirating gastrointestinal secretions and testing the pH.
Answer for screen readers
The most accurate and preferred method for testing the placement of a nasogastric tube is by aspirating gastrointestinal secretions and testing the pH.
More Information
Testing the pH of aspirated gastrointestinal secretions is considered accurate because it directly assesses the chemical environment of the GI tract, verifying that the tube is not misplaced in the respiratory tract.
Tips
A common mistake is relying solely on auscultation (air insertion and listening with a stethoscope), which can be misleading as sounds can also be heard if the tube is incorrectly placed.
Sources
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information
