NUR 313: Providing Enteral Feeding
Why does the nurse elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees for a patient receiving an intermittent tube feeding? A-Elevating the head of the bed reduces the risk for aspiration. B-Proper elevation of the head of the bed promotes the patient's digestion. C-Acid reflux is reduced when the head of the bed is elevated at least 30 degrees. D-Nutrients are absorbed more efficiently when the head of the bed is elevated.
Answer A A- Elevating the head of the bed reduces the risk for aspiration. B-Digestion is not affected when the head of the bed is elevated. C-Reducing acid reflux is not the reason for elevating the head of the bed. D-Nutrient absorption is unaffected by elevating the head of the bed.
Which nursing action is appropriate when feeding gastric residual is 50 mL? a. Return it to the stomach via the feeding tube. b. Dispose of the residual contents down the commode. c. Discard the stomach contents as a liquid biohazard. d. Return half of the volume to the stomach, and discard the rest.
Answer A A- If the volume of the residual stomach contents is less than 250 mL, it can be returned to the stomach via the feeding tube. B-This small amount of gastric aspirate can be returned to the stomach. C- The gastric aspirate can be returned to the stomach. D- The entire volume of gastric aspirate can be returned to the stomach.
4. How could the nurse assess the patency of a nasogastric (NG) tube being used for enteral nutrition? a. Elevate the head of the patient's bed to at least 30 degrees. b. Use an intravenous fluid infusion set. c. Check the gastric residual volume. d. Monitor the amount of intake the patient tolerates in an 8-hour period.
Answer C A -Elevating the head of the bed does not address the patency of the NG tube. B_- Intravenous infusion sets should not be used to infuse tube feedings. C- The nurse would check gastric residual volume. Doing so could determine the patency __| of the feeding tube. —_ —— D- Monitoring the patient's intake in 8 hours does not address the patency of the NG tube. |
3. After unsuccessfully attempting to flush a nasogastric (NG) tube with water, what is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take? A. -flush the tube with ginger ale. B-Use apple juice to flush the tube. C- Obtain a product designed to unclog NG tubes. D-Force-flush the system with sterile normal saline.
Answer C A- Ginger ale and other sodas can increase the risk of clogging. B-Flushing with juice can increase the risk of clogging. C- If the feeding tube becomes clogged, the nurse should obtain and use an unclogging product for feeding tubes. D-Never force-flush a feeding tube. Doing so could rupture the tube and harm the patient.
What is the proper response to the nurse's observation that the patient's closed-system enteral feeding has 150 mL of formula remaining and that the infusion order rate is for 50 mL/hr? a. Recalculate the present drip factor for accuracy. b. Terminate the fluid, and prepare to hang a new bag of formula. c-Plan to check the feeding for completion within the next 3 hours.\ d. Check with the pharmacy to see if the formula has been hanging too long.
Answer C a- This action does not address the issue of time needed to infuse the feeding. The closed-system feeding has a 24-hour delivery timeframe. b- Terminating delivery is inappropriate because the tube feeding still has 3 hours to infuse. c- because the ordered dose is 50 mL/hr, checking for completion within 3 hours is the right choice. d- Because the formula still has 3 hours to infuse, there is no need to contact the pharmacy.
