What action should the nurse take when administering medications via a nasogastric tube with low-intermittent suction?

Verifying the correct placement of a nasogastric tube before administering medications is crucial to ensure that the medications are delivered safely and effectively into the patient's gastrointestinal tract. Accurate placement helps to prevent complications such as aspiration, which can occur if the tube is incorrectly positioned in the lungs instead of the stomach. The nurse should check for proper placement by aspirating for gastric contents, checking pH, or using radiological confirmation as per facility protocol.

This step is fundamental in nursing practice because administering medications through an incorrectly placed tube can lead to severe adverse effects such as lung aspiration and ineffective drug absorption, potentially harming the patient. Therefore, this action ensures both patient safety and the efficacy of the medication being administered through the tube.