A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving continuous enteral feedings. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply)
Explanation & Rationale
A. Ensure the formula is cold before administration. Enteral formula should be given at room temperature to avoid causing gastrointestinal cramping or discomfort. Cold formula can irritate the GI tract and lead to intolerance. B. Check placement of the feeding tube by x-ray once daily. An x-ray is used initially to confirm tube placement after insertion, but daily x-rays are not required. Ongoing checks are done through aspirate checks and measuring external tube length. C. Maintain the head of the client's bed at a 20° angle or higher. The head of the bed should be elevated to at least 30 to 45 degrees to prevent aspiration. A 20° angle is insufficient and increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia. D. Check gastric residuals every 4 hr. This is appropriate for clients receiving continuous feedings. Monitoring gastric residual volume (GRV) every 4 hours helps assess tolerance to the feeding and reduces the risk of aspiration. E. Change the feeding container and tubing every 24 hr. To prevent bacterial contamination, the feeding bag and tubing should be changed every 24 hours when using an open system. This is a standard infection control practice.