A nurse is teaching a group of unit nurses about clients who have a need for gastric decompression

Nasogastric Tube

1.A nurse is caring for a client who has a newly inserted nasogastric tube. Which of the following actions

should the nurse use to verify the initial placement of the tube?

Ans: Obtain an X-Ray

Rationale: the nurse should identify that obtaining an x-ray is the most effective method to verify if the initial

placement of a NG tube.

2.A nurse is teaching a group of unit nurses about clients who have a need for gastric decompression. The

nurse should identify that which of the following clients needs nasogastric tube intubation for gastric

decompression?

Ans: A 40-year-old client who has a postoperative bowel obstruction

Rationale: a client who has a postoperative bowel obstruction should have a NG tube inserted for decompression

to remove gastric secretions. This will assist in relieving abdominal distention, nausea, and pain.

Incorrect answers:

-A 6-year-old child who ingested a toxic substance: a client who ingested a toxic substance should have a

nasogastric tube inserted for gastric lavage within 1 hr. of ingestion. Gastric lavage is used to irrigate the

stomach in cases of poisoning.

-A 60-year-old client who has a gastrointestinal hemorrhage: a client who has a gastrointestinal hemorrhage

should have a nasogastric tube inserted for compression. Gastric compression is an internal application of

pressure caused by inflating a balloon. This can assist in stopping or preventing gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

-A 20-year-old client who has malabsorption syndrome: a client who has malabsorption syndrome should have

a nasogastric tube inserted for enteral feedings.

3.A nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from gastric surgery, is NPO, and has a nasogastric tube

connected to suction. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent dry mucous

membranes?

Ans: Provide frequent mouth care

Rationale: The nurse should perform frequent mouth care, such as brushing their teeth and providing oral swabs,

to keep the client’s mucous membranes from becoming dry and irritated.

4.A nurse is caring for a client who has a nasogastric tube connected to suction. Which of the following

findings indicates that the tube has become occluded?

Ans: increased abdominal distention

Rationale: Tubes connected to suction decompress the GI Tract, which is needed when peristalsis is absent. If

gastric secretions are unable to move through the GI Tract, and if the nasogastric tube is unable to evacuate the

stomach due to an occlusion, abdominal distention, nausea, and vomiting can occur.

Incorrect Answers:

-Active Bowel Sounds – as peristalsis returns, air and fluid move through the intestines, and bowel sounds

become active; therefore, the client will have decreased gastric residual.

-Passing Flatus – as peristalsis returns, air and fluid move through the intestines and causes flatus.

-Increase in gastric secretions – if the tube becomes occlude, secretions will decrease due to the inability to

evacuate secretion.

Which of the following clients needs nasogastric tube intubation for gastric decompression?

What does gastric decompression mean?

What has two lumens one for removal of gastric contents and one to provide an air vent?

When checking for nasogastric tube placement the nurse should conduct which of the following procedure?