The nurse prepares the client for discharge to home with instructions to self-administer nasointestinal tube feedings. Which does the nurse include in client teaching?

Question

1. Infuse lukewarm formula to avoid abdominal cramping.
2. Increase free water with persistent diarrhea or constipation.
3. Flush the tube with 500 ml of water after each tube feeding.
4. Allow the formula to infuse until the bag empties completely.

Answer 1

1
1. Tube feedings infused into the stomach or intestines bypass food warming that takes place as food passes through the mouth and esophagus; thus, the nurse instructs the client to infuse the formula at room temperature to avoid abdominal cramping.
2. The client most likely needs additional fluid with diarrhea to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance or with constipation to facilitate passage of stool through the co-lon; however, the nurse instructs the client to report diarrhea and constipation because these can indicate other complications of tube feedings. In addition, the provider decides how to regulate fluid balance.
3. Flushing with 500 ml of water after each tube feeding is probably excessive and risks causing fluid volume overload in the client. Because nasointestinal feedings generally infuse continuously, the nurse instructs the client replace the feeding bag and tubing every 24 hours and to flush the tubing before and after each new infusion.
4. The nurse instructs the client to infuse the same can of formula for up to 8 hours without adding additional formula over the infusion period.