The nurse is caring for a client following an exploratory laparotomy and bowel resection who has a nasogastric tube to suction and symptoms of nausea and stomach distension. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A)Auscultate for hypotonic bowel sounds.
B)Notify the client's health care provider.
C)Reposition the tube and check for placement.
D)Remove the tube and replace it with a new one.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Repositioning the tube will frequently facilitate drainage. Because this is a common occurrence, it is not appropriate to notify the health care provider. Information about the presence or absence of bowel tones will not be helpful in improving drainage. Removing the tube and replacing it are unnecessarily traumatic to the client.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Client Following an Exploratory