A nurse is preparing to administer an intermittent bolus enteral feeding through a client's established gastrostomy tube. Place the following steps in the correct chronological order from first to last.
- 1Elevate the head of the client's bed to a semi-Fowler's position.
- 2Aspirate gastric contents to verify the residual volume.
- 3Administer the prescribed enteral feeding formula by gravity.
- 4Flush the gastrostomy tube with 30 mL of water.
Answer
The correct sequence is: Elevate the head of the bed, aspirate to verify residual volume, administer the feeding formula, and finally flush the tube with water.
Administering an enteral tube feeding safely requires a sequence of actions that prioritize aspiration prevention and tube patency. First, the client must be positioned upright to reduce aspiration risk. Next, the nurse must measure gastric residual volume to ensure the client is adequately digesting previous feedings. Once safety parameters are met, the formula is administered. Finally, the tube is flushed with water to clear the tubing, preventing occlusion and maintaining patency.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Safe administration of enteral tube feedings