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A nurse is assessing for correct placement of a client's NG feeding tube prior to administering a bolus feeding.

Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A.

Insert air in the tube and listen for gurgling sounds in the epigastric area

B.

Aspirate contents from the tube and verify the pH level

C.

Review the medical record for previous x-ray verification of placement

D.

Auscultate the lungs for adventitious breath sounds

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Aspirate contents from the tube and verify the pH level.

  • A. This is an incorrect action. Inserting air in the tube and listening for gurgling sounds in the epigastric area is not a reliable method to confirm NG tube placement, as it can produce falsepositive results due to air entering the stomach or intestines.
  • B. This is a correct action. Aspirating contents from the tube and verifying the pH level is a valid method to confirm NG tube placement, as gastric contents typically have a pH of less than 5.5, while intestinal or respiratory contents have a higher pH.
  • C. This is an incorrect action. Reviewing the medical record for previous x-ray verification of placement is not sufficient to confirm NG tube placement, as the tube can migrate or become dislodged after insertion. X-ray verification should be done initially and whenever there is doubt about the tube's position.
  • D. This is an incorrect action. Auscultating the lungs for adventitious breath sounds is not a specific method to confirm NG tube placement, as it can indicate other conditions such as pneumonia or pulmonary edema. It can also miss signs of respiratory complications due to NG tube misplacement, such as pneumothorax or bronchial obstruction.


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Respiratory acidosis.

Rationale:

  • A. Incorrect. The client does not have respiratory alkalosis because respiratory alkalosis is characterized by a low PaCO2 (less than 35 mm Hg) and a high pH (greater than 7.45).
  • B. Incorrect. The client does not have metabolic alkalosis because metabolic alkalosis is characterized by a high HCO3 (greater than 26 mEq/L) and a high pH (greater than 7.45). - C. Correct. The client has respiratory acidosis because respiratory acidosis is characterized by a high PaCO2 (greater than 45 mm Hg) and a low pH (less than 7.35).
  • D. Incorrect. The client does not have metabolic acidosis because metabolic acidosis is characterized by a low HCO3 (less than 22 mEq/L) and a low pH (less than 7.35).

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

  • The correct answer is Choice A.

    Choice A rationale: Forming a committee of staff members to investigate current staffing issues is the first step the nurse manager should take. This is because it is important to understand the root cause of the problem before implementing any changes. By forming a committee, the nurse manager can gather different perspectives and insights from the staff members who are directly affected by the staffing issues. This will help in identifying the specific problems and coming up with effective solutions. Furthermore, involving the staff in the decision-making process can increase their acceptance of the changes and reduce resistance.

    Choice B rationale: Providing support to staff members who are resistant to staffing changes is an important step, but it should not be the first action. Before providing support, the nurse manager needs to understand the specific issues causing the resistance. This can be achieved by forming a committee of staff members to investigate the staffing issues.

    Choice C rationale: Scheduling a staff meeting to present the different options to staff members is a crucial step in the process. However, this should be done after the nurse manager has a clear understanding of the staffing issues and has identified potential solutions. Presenting options without first understanding the problem may lead to ineffective solutions and increased resistance from staff members.

    Choice D rationale: Giving the staff members advance written notice of staffing changes is a necessary step to ensure transparency and to give staff members time to adjust. However, this should be done after the nurse manager has identified the staffing issues, explored potential solutions, and decided on the changes to be implemented.

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