While giving a bolus feeding through an NG tube, the patient develops a sudden drop in heart rate and hypotension. The nurse should:

While giving a bolus feeding through an NG tube, the patient develops a sudden drop in heart rate and hypotension. The nurse should:

• A. Continue the administration at the same rate
• B. Discontinue the administration of the bolus feeding
• C. Pause the feeding to check the tube placement
• D. Slow the rate and monitor vital signs

Answer: (B)

A sudden drop in heart rate with hypotension during a bolus feeding signals an acute intolerance or potential complication from the feeding. A rapid gastric distention or aspiration risk can trigger a vagal response or airway compromise, making continuing the feeding unsafe. The immediate action is to discontinue the bolus feeding to halt any ongoing stimulus and prevent further deterioration. After stopping, quickly assess the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation, and monitor vital signs. Elevate the head of the bed if not contraindicated to reduce aspiration risk, and notify the physician or rapid response if instability persists. Once the patient is stable, evaluate potential causes (tube placement, residual volume, signs of aspiration) and determine a safer plan for feeding reinitiation or modification. Slowing the rate or pausing briefly without stopping the entire bolus does not address the immediate risk presented by the instability, and continuing at the same rate would be unsafe.

A sudden drop in heart rate with hypotension during a bolus feeding signals an acute intolerance or potential complication from the feeding. A rapid gastric distention or aspiration risk can trigger a vagal response or airway compromise, making continuing the feeding unsafe. The immediate action is to discontinue the bolus feeding to halt any ongoing stimulus and prevent further deterioration.

After stopping, quickly assess the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation, and monitor vital signs. Elevate the head of the bed if not contraindicated to reduce aspiration risk, and notify the physician or rapid response if instability persists. Once the patient is stable, evaluate potential causes (tube placement, residual volume, signs of aspiration) and determine a safer plan for feeding reinitiation or modification. Slowing the rate or pausing briefly without stopping the entire bolus does not address the immediate risk presented by the instability, and continuing at the same rate would be unsafe.