The nurse is administering a tube feeding to a patient who has been receiving feedings at 50 mL/hour for 1 day. The nurse is checking placement and residual volume and is able to aspirate back 250 mL of undigested tube feeding. What action should the nurse take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Aspirating 250 mL of undigested tube feeding is a significant amount and may indicate a problem with the patient's tolerance to the feeding. The nurse should report this to the RN for consultation with the physician to determine the appropriate course of action. Option A is not appropriate as the rate needs to be adjusted based on physician orders. Option B is not appropriate as aspirating a large amount of undigested feeding indicates a potential problem. Option D is not appropriate as waiting 2 hours before restarting the feeding is not necessary and may delay appropriate intervention.

The Nurse Is Administering a Tube Feeding to a Patient