A patient's nasogastric tube needs to be irrigated. Which action does the nurse implement first to prevent complications?
a. Introduces 30 mL of sterile fluid
b. Verifies the placement of the tube
c. Aspirates gastric contents
d. Positions the patient on the left side
B
The nurse verifies the nasogastric placement before instilling anything into the tube to prevent fluid instillation into the lungs. Instilling saline solution can help prevent depletion of electrolytes because it is an isotonic fluid; however, the nurse does not implement this before verifying tube placement. The nurse can aspirate the irrigation fluid to prevent fluid volume excess, when the patient is on a fluid restriction, or during the initial insertion. Positioning the patient on the left side can help to prevent aspiration; however, the nurse should verify tube placement before beginning the irrigation.
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