Management of Care Q 13

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The patient who had a stroke needs to be fed. What instruction should you give to the nursing assistant who will feed the patient?

  

     A. Position the patient sitting up in bed before you feed her.

     B. Check the patient’s gag and swallowing reflexes.

     C. Feed the patient quickly because there are three more waiting.

     D. Suction the patient’s secretions between bites of food.

    

    

Correct Answer: A. Position the patient sitting up in bed before you feed her.

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Positioning the patient in a sitting position decreases the risk of aspiration.

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Option B: The nursing assistant is not trained to assess gag or swallowing reflexes.

Option C: The patient should not be rushed during feeding.

Option D: A patient who needs to be suctioned between bites of food is not handling secretions and is at risk for aspiration. This patient should be assessed further before feeding.

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