When a client with an NG tube becomes dyspneic and has low oxygen saturation, what should the nurse do first?

• A. Call for assistance
• B. Stop the enteral feeding and position the client at 90°
• C. Administer supplemental oxygen
• D. Check the NG tube for placement

Answer: (B)

When a client with a nasogastric (NG) tube experiences dyspnea and low oxygen saturation, the immediate priority is to ensure the client's safety and optimize their respiratory function. Positioning the client at a 90° angle, or in a sitting-up position, is essential in this scenario because it facilitates better lung expansion and improves oxygenation. This position helps to relieve any potential pressure on the diaphragm caused by the full stomach and allows for easier breathing, thus potentially alleviating dyspnea.

Stopping enteral feeding supports this action as well, because if the enteral feeding is related to any discomfort or complications contributing to the patient's respiratory distress, discontinuing feeding can help, allowing the nurse to address the client's symptoms more effectively.

While checking the placement of the NG tube, calling for assistance, or administering supplemental oxygen are important actions in addressing respiratory distress, they come after ensuring that the client is positioned correctly to breathe more easily. Adjusting the client's position is a fundamental nursing intervention aimed at stabilizing the patient’s condition.