Fundamentals of Nursing Q 355
Which nursing action is essential when providing continuous enteral feeding?
A. Elevating the head of the bed.
B. Positioning the patient on the left side.
C. Warming the formula before administering it.
D. Hanging a full day’s worth of formula at one time.
Correct Answer: A. Elevating the head of the bed.
Elevating the head of the bed during enteral feeding minimizes the risk of aspiration and allows the formula to flow in the patient’s intestines. Lying prone/supine during feeding increases the risk of aspiration and therefore where clinically possible the client should be placed in an upright position. If unable to sit up for a bolus feed or if receiving continuous feeding, the head of the bed should be elevated 30-45 degrees during feeding and for at least 30 minutes after the feed to reduce the risk of aspiration.
Option B: When such elevation is contraindicated, the patient should be positioned on the right side. Turn the patient onto their side. This will allow the tip of the tube to move to a position where fluid has accumulated.
Option C: The nurse should give enteral feeding at room temperature to minimize GI distress. Continuous feeds should NOT be warmed. They may be removed from the fridge 15-20 minutes prior to administration to bring it to room temperature. Feeds should NOT be warmed in a microwave or in jugs of boiling water.
Option D: To limit microbial growth, the nurse should hang only the amount of formula that can be infused in 3 hours. It should not hang for longer than 4 hours – use the dose limit function on the feed pump to ensure this occurs.