Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 93%
Full-length
After abdominal surgery, a client has a nasogastric tube attached to low suctioning. The client becomes nauseated, and the nurse observes a decrease in the flow of gastric secretions. Which of the following nursing interventions would be MOST appropriate?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
Nausea and decreased NG tube output suggest possible obstruction. Aspirating with a syringe confirms tube placement and checks for blockages by testing the pH of aspirate (0ÔÇô4 indicates gastric placement). Irrigation (A) uses normal saline, not distilled water, and only after placement confirmation. Antiemetics (C) or tube replacement (D) do not address the cause.