While a female client is being prepared for discharge, the nasogastric (NG) feeding tube becomes clogged. To remedy this problem and teach the client's family how to deal with it at home, what should the nurse do?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Irrigate the tube with warm water. This is the correct action because irrigating the NG tube with warm water can help dislodge the clog and clear the obstruction. Here is a step-by-step rationale:
1. Gather necessary supplies: warm water, syringe, and towel.
2. Disconnect the tube from the feeding pump.
3. Draw up warm water into the syringe.
4. Gently insert the syringe into the tube and slowly push the warm water to flush out the clog.
5. Repeat the process as needed until the tube is clear.
Other choices are incorrect:
B: Advancing the tube into the intestine can be dangerous and should not be done without proper medical supervision.
C: Applying intermittent suction may not effectively clear the clog and could potentially worsen the situation.
D: Using a 30-ml syringe to withdraw the obstruction may not be as effective as irrigating with warm water.