The nurse is preparing to administer an enteral tube feeding to a client via a nasogastric tube. Which nursing action should be completed first?

C. Excessive noise in the hospital environment, including alarms, conversations, and equipment noises, can disrupt sleep and negatively impact sleep quality. Therefore, limiting unnecessary noise on the unit is a crucial nursing intervention for improving sleep quality in the acute care setting. This may involve implementing quiet hours, reducing unnecessary conversations and activities during nighttime hours, and using noise-reducing strategies such as earplugs or white noise machines.
A. While providing a bedtime snack may help alleviate hunger and promote comfort, especially if the client is on a restricted diet or experiencing appetite changes, it may not directly address factors affecting sleep quality. Additionally, consuming food close to bedtime may not be suitable for all patients, especially those with dietary restrictions or certain medical conditions. Therefore, while a bedtime snack may be beneficial in some cases, it may not be the most important intervention for improving sleep quality in the acute care setting.
B. Pulling curtains around the bed can help create a sense of privacy and reduce visual distractions, which may contribute to a more conducive sleep environment. Enhanced privacy can also promote relaxation and feelings of security, potentially improving sleep quality. However, while privacy curtains can mitigate some external disturbances, they may not completely eliminate factors that affect sleep, such as noise or light.
D. Providing a backrub can promote relaxation, relieve tension, and enhance comfort, which may contribute to improved sleep quality for some patients. Massage therapy has been shown to reduce stress and promote relaxation, potentially facilitating better sleep. However, while backrubs can be a beneficial adjunct to promoting relaxation and comfort, they may not address all factors that affect sleep quality in the acute care setting.

B. Liquid medications are generally preferred for administration through a feeding tube, as they do not require crushing or dissolving and can be easily administered. Using liquid medications reduces the risk of tube occlusion and ensures accurate dosing. Therefore, this procedure is appropriate for medications available in liquid form.

D. Flushing the tube before medication administration helps ensure patency and clears any residual feeding formula or medication from the tube. This step is essential to prevent clogging of the tube and ensure that the medication reaches the stomach or intestines. Therefore, flushing the tube with water or saline before medication administration is a standard procedure.
A. Crushing tablets and mixing them with water or saline can help ensure that the medication is in a form that can be administered through the gastrostomy tube. However, not all tablets are suitable for crushing, as some medications may have special formulations or coatings that should not be crushed.
Therefore, this procedure is appropriate for medications that are safe to crush and administer via a feeding tube.
C. Mixing medications can potentially alter their effectiveness or stability, so it is essential to follow guidelines and recommendations for medication administration through feeding tubes.
E. Adding medications directly to the tube feeding formula may be appropriate for certain medications that are compatible with the formula and do not require separate administration. However, not all medications can be safely mixed with feeding formula, as some medications may interact with the formula components or become less effective.