The nurse is caring for a patient whose nasogastric (NG) tube, attached to low intermittent suction to decompress a bowel obstruction, is not draining. After checking placement, which of these actions should the nurse take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the NG tube is not draining, irrigating the tube with 30 milliliters of normal saline can help clear any blockages in the tube. Changing the suction setting to high or advancing the NG tube 2 inches can cause injury or trauma to the patient's GI tract. Reinserting the NG tube in the other nare can be considered if other interventions have been unsuccessful, but only if the placement of the original NG tube has been verified.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Whose Nasogastric (NG)