HESI PN Exit Exam 2023 Related

Review HESI PN Exit Exam 2023 related questions and content

What is the first action a healthcare professional should take when a patient's nasogastric (NG) tube becomes clogged?

  • A. Flush the tube with water
  • B. Reposition the patient
  • C. Attempt to aspirate the clog with a syringe
  • D. Administer a medication to dissolve the clog
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: When a patient's nasogastric (NG) tube becomes clogged, the first action to take is to attempt to aspirate the clog with a syringe. This is a standard and initial step to clear the blockage in the tube. Flushing the tube with water (Choice A) may not address the specific clog; repositioning the patient (Choice B) is not directly related to clearing the tube. Administering a medication to dissolve the clog (Choice D) should only be considered after simpler methods like aspiration have been attempted.