The nurse is preparing to administer an enteral feeding to a client via a nasogastric feeding tube.
The most important action of the nurse is:
- A. Verify correct placement of the tube
- B. Check that the feeding solution matches the dietary order
- C. Aspirate abdominal contents to determine the amount of last feeding remaining in stomach
- D. Ensure that feeding solution is at room temperature
The most important action of the nurse is to A. Verify correct placement of the tube.
Before administering enteral feeding, it is crucial to ensure that the nasogastric (NG) tube is correctly positioned in the stomach. This is essential to prevent complications such as accidental tube misplacement into the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia.
- Option B, "Check that the feeding solution matches the dietary order,":
is also important, but it is secondary to verifying tube placement. The nurse should double-check that the feeding solution matches the client's specific dietary requirements and preferences.
- Option C, "Aspirate abdominal contents to determine the amount of last feeding remaining in stomach,":
is not always necessary. In some cases, the nurse may aspirate stomach contents to assess gastric residual volume, but this is not always routine and depends on the client's specific condition.
- Option D, "Ensure that feeding solution is at room temperature,":
is not a critical step. The feeding solution can be administered at room temperature or slightly warmed, depending on the client's preference and comfort level.
Therefore, the primary action to ensure safe and effective enteral feeding is to A. Verify correct placement of the tube.
