Question

A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving intermittent enteral feedings every 4 hr via an NG tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to reduce the risk for aspiration?

a) Elevate the head of the bed during and after feedings
b) Administer the feeding at room temperature
c) Encourage the client to lie on the right side during feedings
d) Administer medications with the feeding

Answer 1

To reduce the risk of aspiration in a client receiving enteral feedings via an NG tube, the nurse should elevate the head of the bed during and after feedings.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nursing action that should be taken to reduce the risk of aspiration for a client receiving intermittent enteral feedings via an NG tube is to elevate the head of the bed during and after feedings. This position uses gravity to help prevent the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus and the respiratory tract, thereby reducing the risk of aspiration. While administering the feeding at room temperature is a recommended practice and encouraging the client to lie on the right side might assist with gastric emptying, neither of these actions have as direct an impact on reducing aspiration risk as head elevation does. Administering medications with feedings should be done with caution and according to specific guidelines, as some medications may interact with the feed or need to be administered at separate times.