Safety and Infection ControlQuestion 2208 of 2368
The nurse needs to check the placement of a client's nasogastric feeding tube before a feeding. Which method is appropriate?
- Inject air through the tube and listen over the stomach for a whoosh
- Look at the color and appearance of the aspirated stomach contents
- Compare the visible tube length with the length documented after X-ray
- Rely on the client's report of comfort while the feeding is started
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Correct answer: Compare the visible tube length with the length documented after X-ray
The visible tube length is compared with the length documented at X-ray verification. The air and aspirate appearance methods are unreliable.
Source: Nursing Skills, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Enteral Tube Management: Assessing Tube Placement. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Safety and Infection Control"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026