A 32-year-old woman is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with a small bowel obstruction and has an NG tube connected to low intermittent suction to decompress her stomach. The LPN/VN notes the tube was placed and confirmed by X-ray on admission 6 hours ago. During rounds, the LPN/VN observes 250 mL of bright red drainage in the suction canister over the past hour, whereas the previous hourly totals were 30-50 mL of brown, gastric-appearing fluid. The client's vital signs are stable at this time. Head of bed is elevated 30 degrees, and the tube is secured to the nose with tape. Which action should the nurse take first?
- Increase the suction pressure to help clear the tube and reassess output next shift.
- Immediately report the sudden increase in bright red drainage to the RN or provider.
- Document the drainage color and amount in the chart and continue routine monitoring without notifying the RN or prescriber.
- Instill 30 mL of water through the tube to check patency before taking further action.