Before administering medications or feeding via a nasogastric (NG) tube, how should the nurse confirm correct placement?

Before administering medications or feeding

Multiple choice — select the best answer

AInject air and listen over the epigastrium only
BCheck the tube length markings at the nose
CTest aspirate pH with litmus paper
DAspirate gastric contents and verify pH ≤ 5.5 with a pH indicator strip, then confirm on X-ray initially

✓ Correct answer: D. Aspirate gastric contents and verify pH ≤ 5.5 with a pH indicator strip, then confirm on X-ray initially The gold standard for initial NG tube placement is X-ray. For ongoing use, aspirating gastric contents (typically yellow-green or clear) and checking pH ≤ 5.5 with a pH indicator strip is recommended. The air-auscultation method alone is unreliable and no longer recommended as the sole check.

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Before administering medications or feeding via a nasogastric (NG) tube, how should the nurse confirm correct placement?

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