Which of the following should the nurse do first when introducing a fe

Which of the following should the nurse do first when introducing a feeding to a client with an indwelling gavage tube?

1. Irrigate the tube with normal saline solution.
2. Check to see that the tube is properly placed.
3. Place the client in a supine position.
4. Introduce some water before giving the liquid nourishment.

ANSWER

ANS: 2
Before introducing a feeding through an indwelling gavage tube for enteral nutrition, it is essen-tial that the nurse check to see that the tube is properly placed. It is not necessary to irrigate the tube with normal saline. The client’s head should be elevated 30 to 45 degrees to help prevent the chance of aspiration. The tube may be flushed with 30 mL of water before initiating the feeding. However, the nurse should first verify correct tube placement.