The nurse is caring for a patient who develops difficulty swallowing and has a permanent gastric feeding tube inserted. What nursing action would be most helpful to prevent aspiration during feedings?
a. Check placement of the tube hourly.
b. Administer careful oral care daily.
c. Elevate head of bed at least 30 degrees.
d. Ask the physician to order daily x-rays.
ANS: C
Elevate the head of the patient's bed more than or equal to 30 degrees at all times for feeding.
You might also like to view...
A nurse educator on an oncology unit is teaching staff nurses about advance directives. Which elements will the nurse include in the teaching session? Select all that apply
A) The surrogate decision maker has the authority to consent to any medical treatment or diagnostic procedure. B) The surrogate decision make has the authority to consent to only life saving medical treatments. C) The surrogate decision maker has the authority to authorize admission only to medical facilities and not long-term care facilities. D) The surrogate decision maker has the authority to have access to all medical records. E) The surrogate decision maker has the authority to refuse any medical treatment or diagnostic procedure.
When caring for patients in any health care environment, what is the most important technique for preventing infection?
A) Sterile technique B) Standard precautions C) Hand hygiene D) Use of gloves
A patient has a cast on his left wrist. Which statement is correct?
a. Blood pressure is measured on the injured arm. b. Blood pressure is measured on the right arm. c. The person decides what arm to use. d. You use the arm that is easiest to reach.
When making clinical practice changes, nurses should make permanent changes based on
a. reviewing other unit practices. b. reviewing case reports. c. obtaining expert opinions. d. implementing piloting changes.