The nurse is caring for a patient with a Salem sump double lumen nasogastric (NG) tube to suction.The patient complains of nausea and has mild abdominal distention.What is the nurse's priority action?

A) Administer an antiemetic.
B) Replace the nasogastric tube.
C) Check placement of the NG tube.
D) Irrigate the NG tube.

Question

Brayden Cullen · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : C , Explanation :  The first action should be to check placement of the NG tube because it may have migrated out of the stomach into either the esophagus or the duodenum.The patient with a nasogastric tube should not require an antiemetic because the stomach should be emptied by suction; therefore,this is not the priority action.The nasogastric tube should not be replaced unless other actions are ineffective and the tube is no longer functioning properly.Irrigating the tube would be the second action to take,but placement must be checked before taking this step.

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