A nurse is caring for a client who has an NG tube set to low intermittent suction. The nurse irrigates the NG tube twice with 30 mL of normal saline solution during his shift. At the end of the shift, the NG canister contains 475 mL. What amount of NG drainage should the nurse record? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
The correct answer and Explanation is :
To determine the amount of NG (nasogastric) drainage that the nurse should record, we need to subtract the amount of normal saline solution used for irrigation from the total volume in the NG canister.
Step-by-step breakdown:
- Total volume in the NG canister: 475 mL
- Volume of normal saline used for irrigation:
- The nurse irrigated the NG tube twice with 30 mL of normal saline each time.
- Total saline used for irrigation = 30 mL + 30 mL = 60 mL
- Net NG drainage:
- Subtract the irrigation fluid from the total volume in the canister.
- 475 mL (total volume) – 60 mL (irrigation fluid) = 415 mL
Thus, the amount of NG drainage the nurse should record is 415 mL.
Explanation
Nasogastric (NG) tubes are often used to decompress the stomach, remove contents, or provide feeding in patients who cannot eat normally. In this scenario, the NG tube is connected to low intermittent suction to continuously remove gastric contents.
The nurse irrigated the NG tube with 30 mL of normal saline solution twice during their shift, which totals 60 mL. This irrigation is typically done to ensure the tube remains patent (open) and free of obstructions, preventing clogs that could interfere with the suction process.
However, the saline used for irrigation ends up in the NG canister and must not be counted as gastric drainage. Instead, only the actual gastric contents should be recorded as NG output. By subtracting the irrigation fluid (60 mL) from the total volume in the canister (475 mL), the nurse accurately accounts for the true volume of gastric drainage: 415 mL.
Recording accurate NG output is essential for assessing a patient’s fluid balance and digestive function. Overestimating or underestimating could lead to improper medical decisions regarding hydration and overall health management.