The practical nurse (PN) is inserting a nasogastric tube (NGT) in a client who has a small bowel obstruction. Which distance should the nurse. use to determine the length of insertion of the NGT?
• A Through the nose, the pharynx, and through the cardiac sphincter.
B From the client's earlobe to the epigastrium.
C From the client's nose to the umbilicus.
D From the end of the client's nose to earlobe to xiphoid process.

A nasogastric tube (NGT) is a tube that leads from a nostril to the stomach. Breaking down the word "nasogastric" can help us remember its meaning:

Naso- means nose.
-gastro means stomach.

Let's go through the options:

A. Through the nose, the pharynx, and through the cardiac sphincter.

This is the path that the NGT follows inside the body.
However, the nurse cannot see the pharynx and cardiac sphincter when inserting the tube.

B. From the client's earlobe to the epigastrium.

This distance is too short. If the nurse only measures from the earlobe to the epigastrium, the NGT will not reach the stomach.

C. From the client's nose to the umbilicus.

This distance is inaccurate. The NGT will not travel in a straight line directly from the nose to the umbilicus. The tube may be too long or too short.

D. From the end of the client's nose to earlobe to xiphoid process.

This is the correct distance to determine the length. These locations visible to the nurse match the distance of the path that the NGT follows inside the body.

Therefore, the practical nurse should use the distance from the end of the client's nose to earlobe to xiphoid process to determine the length of insertion of the nasogastric tube.