A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a client through an enteral feeding tube.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A rationale:

Dissolving the medication in 30 mL of water is the correct action. This ensures that the medication is in a suitable form for administration via an NG tube and helps prevent the tube from becoming blocked.

Choice B rationale:

Maintaining the client in the supine position during medication administration is not recommended. This position increases the risk of aspiration. Instead, the client should be in an upright position during medication administration and for at least 30 minutes afterward.

Choice C rationale:

Adding the medication to the enteral feeding formula is not recommended. This can alter the effectiveness of the medication and can also clog the feeding tube.

Choice D rationale:

Flushing the tube with 5 mL of water after administering the medication is not enough. The tube should be flushed with at least 15-30 mL of water before and after medication administration to ensure that the entire dose has been administered and to prevent clogging of the tube.

Choice A rationale:

Pinching the tube while connecting the syringe to it could potentially damage the tube and does not aid in medication administration.

Choice B rationale:

Elevating the head of the client’s bed to only 10° may increase the risk of aspiration. The head of the bed should be elevated to at least 30° during medication administration and for at least an hour afterward.

Choice C rationale:

Flushing the tube with normal saline following medication administration helps ensure that all medication has been administered and helps maintain tube patency.

Choice D rationale:

Combining crushed medications together in a single syringe can lead to drug interactions and can also increase the risk of tube clogging. Each medication should be administered separately.