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NCLEX · General

A nurse is administering a medication through a feeding tube. What is an important safety practice?

Correct answer

Verify each medication can be crushed/given via tube (do not crush enteric-coated or extended-release forms), flush the tube before, between, and after medications, and check tube placement

  1. A Crush all medications together and give enteric-coated tablets crushed
  2. B Verify each medication can be crushed/given via tube (do not crush enteric-coated or extended-release forms), flush the tube before, between, and after medications, and check tube placement
  3. C Never flush the tube
  4. D Give all medications at maximum speed

Why this is the answer

Administering medications via FEEDING TUBE safety practices: VERIFY each medication is appropriate for tube administration — do NOT crush ENTERIC-COATED or EXTENDED-RELEASE (sustained-release) medications (crushing destroys the protective coating/timing, risking overdose or stomach irritation — use liquid forms or alternatives); FLUSH the tube with water BEFORE, BETWEEN each medication, and AFTER (prevents clogging and drug interactions); give medications SEPARATELY (don't mix together); CHECK tube PLACEMENT before administering; keep the head of the bed elevated (aspiration prevention). NCLEX safe care/medication safety. KEY POINT: enteric-coated and extended-release forms must NOT be crushed. Knowing safe feeding-tube medication administration (don't crush ER/EC, flush before/between/after, verify placement) is a commonly tested NCLEX concept.
Source: NCLEX Safe Care — Feeding Tube Medication Safety

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