The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving continuous enteral nutrition through a small-bore silicone feeding tube, has a computed tomography (CT) scan ordered, and will have to be placed in a flat position for the scan. Which of the following actionsby the nurse is best?
A)Shut the feeding off 30-60 minutes before the scan.
B)Ask the health care provider to reschedule the CT scan.
C)Connect the feeding tube to continuous suction during the scan.
D)Send the client to CT scan with oral suction in case of aspiration.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The tube feeding should be shut off 30-60 minutes before any procedure requiring the client to lie flat. Because the CT scan is ordered for diagnosis of client problems, rescheduling is not usually an option. Prevention, rather than treatment, of aspiration is needed. Small-bore feeding tubes are soft and collapse easily with aspiration or suction, making nasogastric suction of gastric contents unreliable.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Client Who Is Receiving