NG TUBE
A nurse cares for a client who has a nasogastric (NG) tube. Which actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.) a. Assess for proper placement of the tube every 4 hours. b. Flush the tube with water every hour to ensure patency. c. Secure the NG tube to the clients upper lip. d. Disconnect suction when auscultating bowel peristalsis. e. Monitor the clients skin around the tube site for irritation.
ANS: A, D, E The nurse should assess for proper placement, tube patency, and output every 4 hours. The nurse should also monitor the skin around the tube for irritation and secure the tube to the clients nose. When auscultating bowel sounds for peristalsis, the nurse should disconnect suction.
The patient has come to the PACU following an ileostomy for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The patient is conscious and has a nasogastric tube in place and a pouch over the stoma. What should be the nurse's initial action? a. Turn patient to right side. b. Give patient ice chips to moisten mouth. c. Attach NG tube to suction. d. Irrigate NG tube.
ANS: C Initially, the NG tube should be attached to suction to decompress the stomach and prevent nausea. Assessing the tube for the need of future irrigation will be part of the postoperative care.
A nurse evaluates that the drainage from a client's nasogastric (NG) tube, inserted for gastric decompression during emergency surgery, would be normal if it: 1. returns brown-liquid in color. 2. returns greenish-yellow in color. 3. has an alkalotic hydrogen level (pH). 4. measures less than 25 mL in volume.
ANS: 2 Normal NG drainage fluid is greenish yellow in color. Brown liquid or drainage with a "coffee-ground" appearance indicates old bleeding. The pH of gastric secretions would be acidic. In emergency surgery, large amounts of output would be expected because the client's stomach was unlikely to be empty
Two hours after admitting a client to a postsurgical unit following a nephrectomy, the client states feeling nauseated. A nurse notes minimal drainage from the nasogastric (NG) tube. Which action should the nurse take first? 1. Notify the physician 2. Administer an antiemetic medication listed on the client's medication record 3. Pull the NG tube out about an inch to release it suctioning against the wall of the stomach 4. Irrigate the NG and check to see if the fluid returns to the drainage-collection container
ANS: 4 Nausea and minimal returns from the NG tube suggest possible occlusion of the tube. The tube should be irrigated per agency policy or physician's order, especially if the surgical area involved the gastrointestinal system. It is unnecessary to notify the physician as the first action; nurses are responsible for maintaining the patency of the tube. Administering an antiemetic is important with nausea, but is not the first action because a functioning NG should relieve the nausea by decompressing the stomach contents. In a Salem sump-type NG with a vent lumen, air may need to be injected to release the tube from suctioning against the wall of the stomach, but the tube should not be partially withdrawn unless it has been determined that intestinal and not gastric drainage is returning.
A nurse is planning to administer medications through a nasogastric (NG) tube. Which interventions should the nurse plan after checking the medications, checking client identification, and verifying tube placement? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. 1. Crush together all medications that are acceptable for crushing 2. Pour crushed medications into one medication cup and mix with water 3.Withdraw all medications and water solution from the medication cup with a syringe and administer 4. Crush each medication separately 5. Pour each individual crushed medication into individual medication cups and mix with water 6.With a syringe, withdraw the single dose of medication from the medication cup and administer. 7. Flush the tubing with water between medications
ANS: 4, 5, 6, 7 Medications to be administered NG should be crushed and administered separately. The NG tube should be flushed with water between each medication. Some medications are less effective when combined with other medications. Therefore, medications should be placed in individual medication cups and administered individually. Options 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect because these actions combine the medications for crushing and administration. ➧ Test-taking Tip: Visualize the sequence to administer medications through a NG tube. Remember to administer medications separately.
A 50-year-old patient who underwent a gastroduodenostomy (Billroth I) earlier today complains of increasing abdominal pain. The patient has no bowel sounds and 200 mL of bright red nasogastric (NG) drainage in the last hour. The highest priority action by the nurse is to a. contact the surgeon. b. irrigate the NG tube. c. monitor the NG drainage. d. administer the prescribed morphine
ANS: A Increased pain and 200 mL of bright red NG drainage 12 hours after surgery indicate possible postoperative hemorrhage, and immediate actions such as blood transfusion and/or return to surgery are needed. Because the NG is draining, there is no indication that irrigation is needed. Continuing to monitor the NG drainage is not an adequate response. The patient may need morphine, but this is not the highest priority action.
A nurse inserts a nasogastric (NG) tube for an adult client who has a bowel obstruction. Which actions does the nurse perform correctly? (Select all that apply.) a. Performs hand hygiene and positions the client in high-Fowlers position, with pillows behind the head and shoulders b. Instructs the client to extend the neck against the pillow once the NG tube has reached the oropharynx c. Checks for correct placement by checking the pH of the fluid aspirated from the tube d. Secures the NG tube by taping it to the clients nose and pinning the end to the pillowcase e. Connects the NG tube to intermittent medium suction with an anti-reflux valve on the air vent
ANS: A, C, E The clients head should be flexed forward once the NG tube has reached the oropharynx. The NG tube should be secured to the clients gown, not to the pillowcase, because it could become dislodged easily. All the other actions are appropriate.
When caring for a 63-year-old woman with a soft, silicone nasogastric tube in place for enteral feedings, the nurse will a. avoid giving medications through the feeding tube. b. flush the tubing after checking for residual volumes. c. administer continuous feedings using an infusion pump. d. replace the tube every 3 days to avoid mucosal damage.
ANS: B The soft silicone feeding tubes are small in diameter and can easily become clogged unless they are flushed after the nurse checks the residual volume. Either intermittent or continuous feedings can be given. The tubes are less likely to cause mucosal damage than the stiffer polyvinyl chloride tubes used for nasogastric suction and do not need to be replaced at certain intervals. Medications can be given through these tubes, but flushing after medication administration is important to avoid clogging
A client had an upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and now has a nasogastric (NG) tube. What comfort measure may the nurse delegate to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? a. Lavaging the tube with ice water b. Performing frequent oral care c. Re-positioning the tube every 4 hours d. Taking and recording vital signs
ANS: B Clients with NG tubes need frequent oral care both for comfort and to prevent infection. Lavaging the tube is done by the nurse. Re-positioning the tube, if needed, is also done by the nurse. The UAP can take vital signs, but this is not a comfort measure.
In caring for a patient with gastric bleeding who has a nasogastric tube in place, the nurse should include in the plan of care to ensure that the NG tube is: a. clamped for 10 minutes every hour. b. kept patent with irrigation. c. frequently repositioned to the opposite nostril. d. changed every 72 hours
ANS: B Irrigating the NG tube PRN will keep the tube patent and ensure effective decompression
44-year-old man admitted with a peptic ulcer has a nasogastric (NG) tube in place. When the patient develops sudden, severe upper abdominal pain, diaphoresis, and a firm abdomen, which action should the nurse take? a. Irrigate the NG tube. b. Check the vital signs. c. Give the ordered antacid. d. Elevate the foot of the bed.
ANS: B The patients symptoms suggest acute perforation, and the nurse should assess for signs of hypovolemic shock. Irrigation of the NG tube, administration of antacids, or both would be contraindicated because any material in the stomach will increase the spillage into the peritoneal cavity. Elevating the foot of the bed may increase abdominal pressure and discomfort, as well as making it more difficult for the patient to breathe.
68-year-old patient with a bleeding duodenal ulcer has a nasogastric (NG) tube in place, and the health care provider orders 30 mL of aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (Maalox) to be instilled through the tube every hour. To evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment, the nurse a. monitors arterial blood gas values daily. b. periodically aspirates and tests gastric pH. c. checks each stool for the presence of occult blood. d. measures the volume of residual stomach contents
ANS: B The purpose for antacids is to increase gastric pH. Checking gastric pH is the most direct way of evaluating the effectiveness of the medication. Arterial blood gases may change slightly, but this does not directly reflect the effect of antacids on gastric pH. Because the patient has upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, occult blood in the stools will appear even after the acute bleeding has stopped. The amount of residual stomach contents is not a reflection of resolution of bleeding or of gastric pH.
The nasogastric (NG) tube is removed on the second postoperative day, and the patient is placed on a clear liquid diet. Four hours later, the patient complains of sharp, cramping gas pains. What action by the nurse is the most appropriate? a. Reinsert the NG tube. b. Give the PRN IV opioid. c. Assist the patient to ambulate. d. Place the patient on NPO status.
ANS: C Ambulation encourages peristalsis and the passing of flatus, which will relieve the patients discomfort. If distention persists, the patient may need to be placed on NPO status, but usually this is not necessary. Morphine administration will further decrease intestinal motility. Gas pains are usually caused by trapping of flatus in the colon, and reinsertion of the NG tube will not relieve the pains.
The nurse caring for a patient with a peptic ulcer who has had a nasogastric tube inserted notes bright blood in the tube; the patient complains of pain and has become hypotensive. Which condition should the nurse recognize these as signs of? a. Hiatal hernia b. Gastritis c. Perforation d. Bowel obstruction
ANS: C Perforation of the gastric wall causes pain, hypotension, and hematemesis. Immediate reporting to the charge nurse/physician is essential as peritonitis, potentially lethal, is the result of a perforation.
A 67-year-old male patient with acute pancreatitis has a nasogastric (NG) tube to suction and is NPO. Which information obtained by the nurse indicates that these therapies have been effective? a. Bowel sounds are present. b. Grey Turner sign resolves. c. Electrolyte levels are normal. d. Abdominal pain is decreased.
ANS: D. NG suction and NPO status will decrease the release of pancreatic enzymes into the pancreas and decrease pain. Although bowel sounds may be hypotonic with acute pancreatitis, the presence of bowel sounds does not indicate that treatment with NG suction and NPO status has been effective. Electrolyte levels may be abnormal with NG suction and must be replaced by appropriate IV infusion. Although Grey Turner sign will eventually resolve, it would not be appropriate to wait for this to occur to determine whether treatment was effective
A patients new onset of dysphagia has required insertion of an NG tube for feeding; the nurse has modified the patients care plan accordingly. What intervention should the nurse include in the patients plan of care? A) Confirm placement of the tube prior to each medication administration. B) Have the patient sip cool water to stimulate saliva production. C) Keep the patient in a low Fowlers position when at rest. D) Connect the tube to continuous wall suction when not in use.
Ans: A Feedback: Each time liquids or medications are administered, and once a shift for continuous feedings, the tube must be checked to ensure that it remains properly placed. If the NG tube is used for decompression, it is attached to intermittent low suction. During the placement of a nasogastric tube the patient should be positioned in a Fowlers position. Oral fluid administration is contraindicated by the patients dysphagia. 21.
A patients NG tube has become clogged after the nurse instilled a medication that was insufficiently crushed. The nurse has attempted to aspirate with a large-bore syringe, with no success. What should the nurse do next? A) Withdraw the NG tube 3 to 5 cm and reattempt aspiration. B) Attach a syringe filled with warm water and attempt an in-and-out motion of instilling and aspirating. C) Withdraw the NG tube slightly and attempt to dislodge by flicking the tube with the fingers. D) Remove the NG tube promptly and obtain an order for reinsertion from the primary care provider
Ans: B Feedback: When a tube is first noted to be clogged, a 30- to 60-mL syringe should be attached to the end of the tube and any contents aspirated and discarded. Then the syringe should be filled with warm water, attached to the tube again, and a back-and-forth motion initiated to help loosen the clog. Removal is not warranted at this early stage and a flicking motion is not recommended. The tube should not be withdrawn, even a few centimeters.
The nurse is preparing to insert a patients ordered NG tube. What factor should the nurse recognize as a risk for incorrect placement? A) The patient is obese and has a short neck. B) The patient is agitated. C) The patient has a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). D) The patient is being treated for pneumonia.
Ans: B Feedback: Inappropriate placement may occur in patients with decreased levels of consciousness, confused mental states, poor or absent cough and gag reflexes, or agitation during insertion. A short neck, GERD, and pneumonia are not linked to incorrect placement.