I was taught to administer a small amount of air and auscultate for a "swoosh" sound or aspirate stomach contents and check for pH. The other day though I was reading the nursing notes of the shift before me and the dude wrote that he verified placement through visualization of stomach contents. Is that right? I figured that's better than giving my little patient a belly full of air (we don't have pH test strips so that's how we check) but I just wanted to be sure that it's a legitimate way of checking. Please and thanks!

Can't give specific medical advice, per TOS, however, I think you are confusing tubes. An NG tube that goes into one's nose and into stomach one would hear a swoosh sound. Stomach contents would be in the suction container on the wall, and if you are getting nothing, then ask for x-ray confirmation of placement.

A tube that is placed surgically into the stomach (and they are named many different lettered tubes) would be where you would draw back to see if there's stomach contents, (which I learned you should do before anything goes into it--as well as with your assessment). Look up your specific policy on how much you should draw back on, if there's feed or gastric juices, etc. to be sure that you are looking for the correct thing. Also, with an NG tube if it is not suctioning anything out, be mindful that is something to speak to the MD about....meaning a possible change in the LWS, etc.

Okay thanks!