A nurse is preparing to place a patient's ordered nasogastric tube. How should the nurse best determine the correct length of the nasogastric tube?
A) Place distal tip to nose, then ear tip and end of xiphoid process.
B) Instruct the patient to lie prone and measure tip of nose to umbilical area.
C) Insert the tube into the patient's nose until secretions can be aspirated.
D) Obtain an order from the physician for the length of tube to insert.
Ans: A
Feedback:
Tube length is traditionally determined by (1) measuring the distance from the tip of the nose to the earlobe and from the earlobe to the xiphoid process, and (2) adding up to 6 inches for NG placement or at least 8 to 10 inches or more for intestinal placement, although studies do not necessarily confirm that this is a reliable technique. The physician would not prescribe a specific length and the umbilicus is not a landmark for this process. Length is not determined by aspirating from the tube.
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