Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 83%
Simulated
The practical nurse (PN) is providing instructions to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) preparing to give a total bed bath to an immobile client who has a continuous feeding via gastrostomy tube (GT). Which instruction is most important for the PN to emphasize?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
Keeping the head of the bed raised while the tube feeding is infusing is the correct answer. This is crucial in preventing aspiration, a serious complication where the contents of the stomach enter the lungs. Aspiration can lead to pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening condition. Therefore, the head of the bed should be kept at a 30-45 degree angle during feeding and for at least 30 minutes after feeding.