What 3 routine checks are required of a nasogastric tube when it is already in a patient?

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I have an assignment and i figured that you need to check whether the tube hasn't moved anywhere. Another is if the tape is secured. But i'm struggling to work out another check

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Checking pH and X-ray

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Hi!

Whenever I have a patient that has an existing NG or OG in the Emergency department (usually from a transfer) I will check placement of the tube. Or if I am receiving report from another nurse and I am concerned that it may not be placed correctly or if my patient had a change in position. I first check by auscultation. Also, when you pull back on the syringe you should see gastric content. You can pH test the content if your facility has the testing strips. You can also verify placement by XR or CT (usually patients that need a NG or OG will have further diagnostics ordered). I once had a patient who was a trauma transfer. I auscultated to confirm OG placement (he was intubated with poor oxygen saturation). XR tech swooped in on our trauma code and the XR showed the OG tube was in the lung. Once we pulled it out he began ventilating and perfusing much better. Hope that helps!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

A secured taping does NOT insure that a tube is properly in place. A tube could be coiled and as PP RJ55 comments could be straight in the lung!

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You should also check residual per md order, patency of the tube, if the order is to be hooked up to suction, is the suction at the right level? and is it intermittent or low continuous. and if it's a salem sump and it's hooked up to low continuous you need to make sure the blue air vent is not blocked off.

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The three main checks we have always learned is check the measurement (e.g. make sure the tape is at the length on the tube it is supposed to be to check if the tube has either slid out or moved farther in), check the pH of the tube contents, and Chest x-ray which is the gold standard for checking placement. I believe many facilities do still auscultate but it has been shown to be ineffective so we aren't being taught that in school anymore.

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

Auscultating an NG tube is NOT evidence-based practice, so don't pick that one. IRL, you will see people still do it.

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answered by someone else

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Specializes in NICU.

Wasn't this question answered in your previous thread?

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/what-3-routine-1143922.html

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Some details re what you've determined to be important?

OP did ask in another post re NASO tube. And also about interventions for an insulin drip.

Multiple homework questions.

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