A nurse is caring for a patient with a nasogastric (NG) tube and tests the pH of the secretions to verify correct placement of the tube.
What pH reading should the nurse expect?

Choice A rationale

Dehydration is a common finding in a patient who has had diarrhea for several days. Symptoms of dehydration can include dark-colored urine, excessive thirst, fatigue, dizziness, or light-headedness.

Choice B rationale

Diarrhea does not typically cause decreased bowel sounds.

Choice C rationale

A rigid abdomen is not a typical finding in a patient who has had diarrhea for several days.

Choice D rationale

Hypothermia is not a typical finding in a patient who has had diarrhea for several days.

Choice A rationale

While gastric acid can cause dyspepsia, measuring gastric residual is not primarily done to remove gastric acid.

Choice B rationale

Measuring gastric residual is primarily done to identify delayed gastric emptying. This is important because delayed gastric emptying can lead to complications such as aspiration pneumonia.

Choice C rationale

Gastric residual does not directly determine the patient’s electrolyte balance.

Choice D rationale

While confirming the placement of the NG tube is important, it is not the primary purpose of measuring gastric residual.