NG TUBE BASICS
Common reasons an NG tube insertion.
What are gastric decompression or enteral feeding/medication administration?
This is the gold standard for verifying initial NG tube placement.
What is an X-ray?
The purpose of a chest tube.
What is to remove air, blood, or fluid from the pleural space?
The chest tube accidentally disconnects from the drainage system.
What should the nurse do?
Place the tube end in sterile water and notify the provider.
Raise HOB to 30–45°.
What should the nurse do if patient receiving tube feeding is lying flat.
The landmarks that should be measured before insertion.
What is nose → ear → xiphoid process (NEX measurement)?
True or False:
Injecting air while auscultating the stomach confirms placement.
What is False?
This chamber should bubble continuously only if suction is ordered.
What is the suction control chamber?
Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates...
What is an air leak?
A patient suddenly has absent tidaling after coughing.
What the nurse should do is assess for lung re-expansion, tubing kinks, dependent loops, or obstruction.
?
This tube is generally used for short-term feeding.
What is a small-bore feeding tube (Dobhoff/Cortrak)?
A patient begins coughing violently during insertion.
Withdraw the tube immediately.
Intermittent bubbling in this chamber may indicate this condition.
What is an air leak resolving (water seal chamber)?
Apply an occlusive dressing taped on three sides and notify the provider.
The chest tube completely came out of the patient's chest?
A patient accidentally pulls the NG tube out.
What is Stop feeding, assess patient, notify provider, replace if ordered.
This larger tube is commonly used for decompression.
What is a Salem Sump tube?
This pH usually indicates gastric placement.
What is 5.5 or less (depending on medications/feeding)?
This is the normal amount of water in the water seal chamber.
What is 2 cm?
Attempt warm water flush per policy; do not use excessive force.
What should the nurse do if the NG Tube becomes clogged?
A patient with a chest tube develops increasing shortness of breath and tracheal deviation.
What is a Tension pneumothorax.
Name some common indications for NG tube placement (need all five).
What are:
Name the assessments needed before starting tube feeding.
Assessments include:
Name three reasons for chest tube insertion.
What are:
Your chest tube drainage suddenly increases from 40 mL/hr to 250 mL in one hour.
What is Assess the patient immediately and notify the provider—possible hemorrhage.
Your patient's chest tube drainage system is tipped over.
What is Keep the system upright, assess water seal level, ensure functionality, and replace if compromised.