A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing postoperative nausea and vomiting. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following complications of vomiting?

A. Flush the tube with water:
This is the correct action to take first. Flushing the tube with water ensures that the tube is clear and functional before administering the bolus enteral feeding.

B. Measure stomach contents:
This is not the first action to take. Before measuring stomach contents, it's important to confirm that the tube is patent and clear by flushing it with water.

C. Elevate the head of the bed:
While elevating the head of the bed is important during and after enteral feedings to reduce the risk of aspiration, it is not the first step. The initial focus should be on verifying the tube's patency.

D. Return gastric content into the gastrostomy tube:
If there is resistance or difficulty flushing the tube, returning gastric contents into the tube may be necessary, but it's not the first action. The first step is to attempt to clear the tube with water.

A. The nurse administers the feeding through a syringe barrel by gravity.
This is an appropriate method for administering intermittent tube feedings. Gravity feeding with a syringe allows for controlled delivery of the feeding solution.

B. The nurse allows the client to rest in a supine position during feeding.
Feeding a client in a supine position is generally acceptable, especially if the client is comfortable and doesn't experience complications. However, if there are specific contraindications or concerns for aspiration, the nurse should follow the prescribed position guidelines.

C. The nurse irrigates the NG tube with tap water after feeding.
Using tap water to irrigate an NG tube is not recommended, as it may lead to complications such as electrolyte imbalances. Sterile or distilled water should be used for irrigation.

D. The nurse initiates the feeding after aspirating 50 mL of gastric residual.
This is an appropriate action. Aspirating gastric residual before initiating a feeding helps assess the presence of gastric contents, ensuring that the client is ready to receive the feeding. However, specific institutional policies may dictate the threshold for gastric residual volume that requires intervention.