Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Study Guide to Ensure Exam Success!

Monitoring for tube placement and patency is a primary nursing consideration for a patient on continuous nasogastric tube feeding. This is critical because ensuring that the tube is correctly positioned in the stomach is vital for effective feeding and to prevent complications. If the tube is misplaced, there is a risk that the feeding could enter the lungs, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia. Additionally, checking for patency is essential to ensure that the formula can flow freely through the tube without obstruction, which could delay feeding and potentially cause discomfort or other complications for the patient. This proactive monitoring ensures that the nutritional needs are met while minimizing risks associated with improper tube function.