When caring for a patient with a nasogastric tube, the nurse should verify placement by:

A) Listening for air bubbles over the abdomen is definitive

B) Aspirating gastric contents and checking pH (should be 1-5), with X-ray being the gold standard for initial placement

C) Flushing with water

D) Checking tube length only

Explanation

NGT verification: gold standard = x-ray for initial placement. Ongoing: aspirate contents (gastric pH 1-5 acidic, intestinal 6+, respiratory 7+), check external tube marking/length. Auscultation alone is unreliable. Verify before each feeding/medication.

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