44. A nurse is preparing to provide foot care for a client who is ambulatory. Identify the sequence of steps the nurse should follow when performing foot care. (Move the steps into the box on the right, placing them in the order of performance. Use all the steps.)

A. Flush the client's tube with 5 mL of water. – This is incorrect because the standard amount of water used to flush a feeding tube is typically 30–50 mL to maintain patency and prevent clogging.
B. Place the client in a supine position. – This is incorrect because the client should be placed in a semi-Fowler’s or Fowler’s position (at least 30–45 degrees) to reduce the risk of aspiration.
C. Check the pH level of the client's gastric contents. – This is the correct answer. Checking the pH of gastric contents (typically ≤5.5) helps confirm proper tube placement before administering feedings, reducing the risk of aspiration.
D. Check the patency of the client's tube every 8 hr. – This is incorrect because tube patency should be checked before each feeding or medication administration, not just every 8 hours.

A. "Apply intermittent suction for 20 to 30 seconds." –
Suctioning should be applied intermittently for no more than 10 to 15 seconds to prevent hypoxia and mucosal damage.
B. "Place the catheter in a location that is clean and dry for later use." –
A suction catheter should not be reused once it has been used; it should be discarded after a single use to prevent infection.
C. "Hold the suction catheter with the clean, nondominant hand." –
The dominant hand should remain sterile and be used to control the suction catheter, while the nondominant hand is used to handle nonsterile equipment.
D. "Use surgical asepsis when performing the procedure." –
Nasotracheal suctioning is a sterile procedure because it involves direct access to the lower airway, requiring surgical asepsis to reduce the risk of infection.