Deck 14: Enteral Tube Feedings

Question 1

The nurse is checking the residual volume of tube feeding on a patient who is receiving continuous feeding at 40 mL/hr. After aspirating and noting that the patient has 120 mL residual feeding in the stomach, what should the nurse do? Select all that apply.
1) Discard the aspirated feeding into the client's toilet using Standard Precautions.
2) Document the procedure and the amount of aspirate obtained.
3) Place the feeding infusion on hold.
4) Flush the feeding tube with tap water.
5) Return the aspirate to the stomach through the feeding tube.

Answer 1

2, 3, 5

Question 2

Which of the following are disadvantages of gastrostomy tubes? Select all that apply.
1) Requires smaller volumes of feeding due to small size of jejunum
2) Requires surgical procedure and incision are required
3) Highest risk of aspiration of any feeding system
4) Risk of infection at insertion site
5) May become dislodged

Answer 2

2, 4, 5

Question 3

Which of the following is the most reliable method of verifying the correct placement of a feeding tube?
1) Aspirating stomach contents
2) Checking the pH of stomach contents
3) Instilling air into the stomach while listening with a stethoscope
4) Through radiography (x-ray)

Answer 3

4

Question 4

Which action by the student nurse would cause the nursing instructor to intervene when administering medications through a feeding tube?
1) Dissolving a patient's crushed medication in sterile water or saline
2) Crushing a patient's medications together to facilitate administration
3) Pouring the dissolved fluid/medication mixture into the feeding syringe to infuse by gravity
4) Elevating the head of the patient's bed 35 to 45 degrees to prevent aspiration

Question 5

Which statement is false regarding open tube feeding systems?
1) They may be administered by syringe or feeding bag.
2) A feeding bag may hang 24 hours, but should be rinsed well between feedings.
3) The syringe used to administer bolus feedings must be replaced every 24 hours.
4) A ready-to-hang bottle may be used to administer feedings through an open system.

Question 6

After initially verifying placement of a patient's feeding tube by x-ray, which methods should the nurse use to verify placement routinely at the bedside? Select all that apply.
1) Checking the tube for carbon monoxide using a capnometer at least once per shift
2) Aspiration of stomach contents for greenish-brown fluid
3) Injecting a small volume of air while auscultating over the stomach area
4) Placing the end of the feeding tube into a cup of distilled water to check for bubbling
5) Repeating an x-ray prior to each feeding or at least daily to document placement

Question 7

A feeding tube that is placed directly into the stomach with the aid of an endoscope is called:
1) A nasogastric tube
2) An orogastric tube
3) A percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube
4) A percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) tube