The charge nurse observes a new nurse during the administration of two different liquid medications at once through a gastrostomy tube used for enteral feeding. The charge nurse observes the new nurse's actions, as seen in the video. What action(s) should the charge nurse take? (Select all that apply.)
Encourage the novice to flush the tube with more water.
Instruct the novice to administer each medication separately.
Add the liquid volumes when documenting fluid intake.
Confirm that the novice determined the amount of gastric residual.
Advise the novice to use the plunger when giving medications.
Correct Answer : A,B,C,D
The correct answer is A, B, C, and D.
Choice A reason: Flushing the gastrostomy tube with water is essential to maintain tube patency and prevent medication interactions. It should be done before and after medication administration. The typical amount of water used for flushing can range from 15 to 30 mL.
Choice B reason: Administering each medication separately is a critical practice to prevent drug interactions and ensure that the full dose of each medication is delivered. It also helps in preventing the clogging of the tube.
Choice C reason: Documenting all liquid volumes, including medications and water used for flushing, is important for accurate fluid intake records. This helps in maintaining fluid balance and monitoring the patient’s hydration status.
Choice D reason: Checking gastric residual volume is important to assess the patient’s tolerance to enteral feeding and to prevent complications such as aspiration. Normal gastric residual volumes are generally considered to be less than 250 mL.
Choice E reason: Using a plunger to administer medications through a gastrostomy tube is not always recommended. Medications should be administered slowly to prevent discomfort or harm, and the use of a plunger is not a standard practice across all healthcare settings.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is A:
Choice A reason: Review the need for the UAP to wear a face mask while in close contact with the client. Influenza is a respiratory virus that spreads mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk.A face mask can help block the spread of these droplets.
Choice B reason:Reminding the UAP to apply a fitted respirator mask before entering the client’s room is not necessary for standard influenza precautions.Respirator masks are more commonly used for airborne precautions, such as tuberculosis or measles, not for influenza.
Choice C reason:Assigning the UAP to provide care for another client and assuming full care of the client is not indicated unless the UAP is not following proper infection control procedures.There is no evidence of that in the scenario provided.
Choice D reason:Instructing the UAP to notify the nurse of any changes in the client’s respiratory status is important, but it is not the immediate action related to infection control.The priority is to prevent the spread of infection.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A: Securing chest tube to the stretcher for transport is a good practice, but it is not the most important action. The chest tube should be secured to prevent accidental dislodgement or kinking, but it does not affect the function of the chest tube or the drainage system.
Choice B: Administering PRN pain medication prior to transport is a compassionate action, but it is not the most important action. The client may experience pain due to the chest tube, the intubation, or the underlying condition, but pain relief is not a priority over maintaining adequate ventilation and drainage.
Choice C: Marking the amount of chest drainage on the container is a useful action, but it is not the most important action. The amount of chest drainage should be recorded and reported to monitor the client's status and detect any complications, such as hemorrhage or infection, but it does not affect the immediate function of the chest tube or the drainage system.
Choice D: Keeping the chest tube container below the site of insertion is the most important action for the nurse to take. The chest tube container should be kept below the level of the client's chest to maintain a gravity-dependent pressure gradient that allows air and fluid to drain from the pleural space. If the container is raised above the site of insertion, it can cause backflow of air or fluid into the pleural space, which can compromise ventilation and cause tension pneumothorax.
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