Question

A Charge Nurse is evaluating a plan of care that a newly licensed nurse developed for a client who is to receive continuous NG tube feeding. Which of the following interventions should the CN ensure is part of the plan of care?

a. Check tube placement by aspirating gastric contents.
b. Administer bolus feedings as needed.
c. Elevate the head of the bed to at least 30 degrees during feedings and for 1 hour afterward.
d. Perform daily tracheostomy care.

Answer 1

The Charge Nurse should ensure that 'Elevate the head of the bed to at least 30 degrees during feedings and for 1 hour afterward' is included in the plan of care for continuous NG tube feeding to prevent aspiration.The correct option is C, Elevate the head of the bed to at least 30 degrees during feedings and for 1 hour afterward.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns creating a safe and effective plan of care for a patient who is to receive continuous NG tube feeding. When establishing this plan, it is crucial that the Charge Nurse includes certain interventions to ensure patient safety and the efficacy of the feeding protocol.

The correct intervention to ensure as part of the plan of care is: c. Elevate the head of the bed to at least 30 degrees during feedings and for 1 hour afterward. This precaution helps to minimize the risk of aspiration, which can occur if the feeding enters the lungs instead of the stomach and can lead to pneumonia or other serious complications.

While verifying tube placement is also important, it is typically checked by pH testing or radiographic confirmation rather than aspirating gastric contents due to the risk of false placement confirmation. Bolus feedings are not continuous and therefore not relevant to a continuous feeding protocol. Daily tracheostomy care is not directly related to NG tube feedings and would be contingent upon the patient actually having a tracheostomy.

Answer 2

The Charge Nurse should ensure elevating the head of the bed is part of the plan of care for a client receiving continuous NG tube feeding.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Charge Nurse should ensure that elevating the head of the bed to at least 30 degrees during feedings and for 1 hour afterward is part of the plan of care for a client receiving continuous NG tube feeding. This helps prevent aspiration, which is the entry of food or fluids into the lungs. Elevating the head of the bed reduces the risk of aspiration pneumonia by promoting proper digestion and preventing reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. It also helps maintain the client's airway and facilitates the movement of the food or fluids through the gastrointestinal tract.