The nurse is preparing to place a nasogastric tube in one of her patients. What is the process for determining the length of a nasogastric tube to be placed in the stomach?
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 nose until tube fills with secretions.
D) Obtain an order from the physician for the number of inches to insert the tube.
Ans: A
Feedback: Before inserting one of these tubes, the nurse determines the length that will be needed to reach the stomach or the small intestine. A mark is made on the tube to indicate the desired length. This 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 6 inches for NG placement or 8 to 10 inches for intestinal placement, although studies do not necessarily confirm that this is a reliable technique. Options B, C, and D are not correct actions for the nurse to take when preparing to insert a nasogastric tube.
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