When performing an orogastric feeding for an infant, what should the nurse do to verify tube placement?

Verifying tube placement is critical in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of orogastric feeding in infants. Testing gastric secretions for pH is a reliable method to confirm that the feeding tube is correctly positioned in the stomach rather than in the lungs or esophagus. By measuring the pH level of gastric contents, the nurse can determine if the tube is in the appropriate location. A pH value of 5 or less generally indicates the presence of stomach contents, thus confirming proper placement.

Using residual feeding to check tube placement may assess if the stomach is emptying adequately, but it does not provide direct evidence of where the tube is located. Observing for coughing does not reliably indicate tube placement in the stomach, as it could result from other causes, and listening for bowel sounds, while useful for assessing gastrointestinal function, does not serve as a determinant for the placement of an orogastric tube either. Therefore, testing gastric secretions for pH stands out as the most direct and reliable method for ensuring tube placement prior to feeding.