Before giving the patient an intermittent gastric tube feeding, what should the nurse do?

A) Make sure that the tube is secured to the gown with a safety pin.
B) Inject air into the stomach via the tube and auscultate.
C) Have the tube feeding at room temperature.
D) Check to make sure pH is at least 5.

Be sure that the formula is at room temperature. Cold formula causes gastric cramping and discomfort because the mouth and the esophagus do not warm the liquid. Do not use safety pins. Safety pins can become unfastened and may cause harm to the patient. Auscultation is no longer considered a reliable method for verification of tube placement because a tube inadvertently placed in the lungs, pharynx, or esophagus transmits sound similar to that of air entering the stomach. Gastric fluid of patient who has fasted for at least 4 hours usually has a pH of 1 to 4, especially when the patient is not receiving gastric-acid inhibitor.