A nurse is participating in a patients care conference and the team is deciding between parenteral nutrition (PN) and a total nutritional admixture (TNA). What advantages are associated with providing TNA rather than PN?
- A. TNA can be mixed by a certified registered nurse.
- B. TNA can be administered over 8 hours, while PN requires 24-hour administration.
- C. TNA is less costly than PN.
- D. TNA does not require the use of a micron filter.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: TNA is mixed in one container and administered to the patient over a 24-hour period. A 1.5-micron filter is used with the TNA solution. Advantages of the TNA over PN include cost savings. Pharmacy staff must prepare both solutions.
You may also like to solve these questions
A nurse is caring for a patient with a nasogastric tube for feeding. During shift assessment, the nurse auscultates a new onset of bilateral lung crackles and notes a respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute. The patients oxygen saturation is 89% by pulse oximetry. After ensuring the patients immediate safety, what is the nurses most appropriate action?
- A. Perform chest physiotherapy.
- B. Reduce the height of the patients bed and remove the NG tube.
- C. Liaise with the dietitian to obtain a feeding solution with lower osmolarity.
- D. Report possible signs of aspiration pneumonia to the primary care provider.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The patient should be assessed for further signs of aspiration pneumonia. It is unnecessary to remove the NG tube and chest physiotherapy is not indicated. A different feeding solution will not resolve this complication.
A patient receiving tube feedings is experiencing diarrhea. The nurse and the physician suspect that the patient is experiencing dumping syndrome. What intervention is most appropriate?
- A. Stop the tube feed and aspirate stomach contents.
- B. Increase the hourly feed rate so it finishes earlier.
- C. Dilute the concentration of the feeding solution.
- D. Administer fluid replacement by IV.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dumping syndrome can generally be alleviated by starting with a dilute solution and then increasing the concentration of the solution over several days. Fluid replacement may be necessary but does not prevent or treat dumping syndrome. There is no need to aspirate stomach contents. Increasing the rate will exacerbate the problem.
A patient who suffered a stroke had an NG tube inserted to facilitate feeding shortly after admission. The patient has since become comatose and the patients family asks the nurse why the physician is recommending the removal of the patients NG tube and the insertion of a gastrostomy tube. What is the nurses best response?
- A. It eliminates the risk for infection.
- B. Feeds can be infused at a faster rate.
- C. Regurgitation and aspiration are less likely.
- D. It allows caregivers to provide personal hygiene more easily.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Gastrostomy is preferred over NG feedings in the patient who is comatose because the gastroesophageal sphincter remains intact, making regurgitation and aspiration less likely than with NG feedings. Both tubes carry a risk for infection; this change in care is not motivated by the possibility of faster infusion or easier personal care.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has a gastrointestinal tube in place. Which of the following are indications for gastrointestinal intubation? Select all that apply.
- A. To remove gas from the stomach
- B. To administer clotting factors to treat a GI bleed
- C. To remove toxins from the stomach
- D. To open sphincters that are closed
- E. To diagnose GI motility disorders
Correct Answer: A,C,E
Rationale: GI intubation may be performed to decompress the stomach and remove gas and fluid, lavage (flush with water or other fluids) the stomach and remove ingested toxins or other harmful materials, diagnose disorders of GI motility and other disorders, administer medications and feedings, compress a bleeding site, and aspirate gastric contents for analysis. GI intubation is not used for opening sphincters that are not functional or for administering clotting factors.
A patients new onset of dysphagia has required insertion of an NG tube for feeding; the nurse has modified the patients care plan accordingly. What intervention should the nurse include in the patients plan of care?
- A. Confirm placement of the tube prior to each medication administration.
- B. Have the patient sip cool water to stimulate saliva production.
- C. Keep the patient in a low Fowlers position when at rest.
- D. Connect the tube to continuous wall suction when not in use.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Each time liquids or medications are administered, and once a shift for continuous feedings, the tube must be checked to ensure that it remains properly placed. If the NG tube is used for decompression, it is attached to intermittent low suction. During the placement of a nasogastric tube the patient should be positioned in a Fowlers position. Oral fluid administration is contraindicated by the patients dysphagia.
Nokea