Clinical context A client receiving continuous enteral nutrition has a pump occlusion alarm after a crushed medication; the feeding tube will not flush and the external tubing has not yet been fully assessed. Which actions are appropriate when an enteral feeding tube becomes clogged? Select exactly 4 responses.
Select All That Apply
Choose your responses, then check the answer.
Explanation
Safe declogging begins with mechanical checks and warm water using gentle pressure. An authorized enzyme method can follow if water fails, and the team should correct the medication or flushing process that caused the clog.
Quick answer Use check, warm water, approved escalation, and prevention review.
Why this is correct Rigid objects can perforate the tube, and acidic beverages can worsen formula-related precipitation or damage the device rather than reliably clearing it.
Easy analogy or mental picture Treat every infusion as a controlled clinical system: verify the product and access, recognize a changing cue, stop preventable exposure, stabilize the client, and confirm the response.
NCLEX decision rule Choose the action that prevents the most immediate infusion-related harm while preserving vascular access and the ordered diagnostic evidence.
Why the other choices are wrong Options that restart a suspect product, bypass a safety device, force an occluded tube, or delay reassessment can convert a reversible warning into serious harm.
References
1ASPEN Safe Practices for Enteral Nutrition TherapyTube-location verification, water flushing, separate medication administration, and evidence-based clog prevention and management
Clinical contextA client receiving continuous enteral nutrition has a pump occlusion alarm after a crushed medication; the feeding tube will not flush and the external tubing has not yet been fully assessed.