The nurse inserts the NGT to the measured length. Which does the nurse implement to confirm placement of the NGT without an x-ray?

Question

1. Measure the pH of gastric aspirate.
2. Ask client if the tube is comfortable.
3. Instill air and listen over the stomach.
4. Advance tube past measured length.

Answer 1

1
1. After inserting the NGT to the measured length, the nurse asks the client to speak, visualizes the tube in the posterior oropharynx, and analyzes the gastric aspirate for pH. If the tube is in the esophagus, the client should be able to speak, the tube should be aligned with the esophagus, and the pH should be less than 4.
2. The NGT is usually uncomfortable initially.
3. The nurse avoids instilling air into the NGT as a method of confirming placement because the tube can be in the lungs; besides, air injected into the stomach increases client discomfort and increases gastric distention.
4. Advancing the tube is performed after initial placement assessments when confir-mation indicates the tube is not in the trachea but potentially has not reached the stomach.