Before bolus feeding, which steps should be completed?

Before bolus feeding, which steps should be completed?

• A. Verify bowel sounds and position the patient in Fowler's position on the right side
• B. Begin bolus feeding immediately
• C. Place patient supine
• D. Deliver cold formula

Answer: (A)

Before giving a bolus feed, you want to make sure the gut can handle it and that the airway is protected during administration. Checking for bowel sounds helps confirm the GI tract is active and capable of moving and digesting the formula; if bowel sounds are absent or diminished, feeding may be unsafe or require further evaluation. Positioning the patient in Fowler’s position—another way to say elevating the head of the bed to about 30–45 degrees—reduces the risk of aspiration by keeping the airway above the stomach contents during and after the bolus. While some protocols describe a right-side position for certain gastric-emptying considerations, the key safety point is an upright position during the feed to minimize aspiration risk. Starting the feed immediately without assessment, placing the patient flat, or delivering cold formula could increase the risk of aspiration or intolerance, so they’re not appropriate before these steps are completed.

Before giving a bolus feed, you want to make sure the gut can handle it and that the airway is protected during administration. Checking for bowel sounds helps confirm the GI tract is active and capable of moving and digesting the formula; if bowel sounds are absent or diminished, feeding may be unsafe or require further evaluation. Positioning the patient in Fowler’s position—another way to say elevating the head of the bed to about 30–45 degrees—reduces the risk of aspiration by keeping the airway above the stomach contents during and after the bolus. While some protocols describe a right-side position for certain gastric-emptying considerations, the key safety point is an upright position during the feed to minimize aspiration risk. Starting the feed immediately without assessment, placing the patient flat, or delivering cold formula could increase the risk of aspiration or intolerance, so they’re not appropriate before these steps are completed.