The nurse is to administer several medications to a patient via a nasogastric (NG) tube. What should the nurse do first?

Question

a. Add the medications to the tube feeding being given.
b. Crush all tablets and capsules before administration.
c. Administer all of the medications mixed together.
d. Check for placement of the NG tube.

Answer 1

D
Check the placement of the feeding tube by observing gastric contents and checking the pH of aspirated contents. Gastric pH should be 4 or less. This ensures proper tube placement and reduces the risk of introducing fluids into the respiratory tract. Never add medications directly to the tube feeding. Not all tablets can be crushed, such as sustained-release tablets, nor should all capsules be opened. Medications should be reviewed carefully before a tablet is crushed or a capsule is opened. To administer more than one medication, give each separately, and flush between medications with 10 mL of water. Keeping the medications separate allows for accurate identification of medication if a dose is spilled. In addition, some medications are not compatible with each other, and this may cause clogging of the tube.