When administering a gavage feeding to a school-age child, which action should the nurse implement?

• A. Administer feedings over 5 to 10 minutes.
• B. Position the child on the right side after administering the feeding.
• C. Check the placement of the tube by inserting 20 ml of sterile water.
• D. Lubricate the tip of the feeding tube with petroleum jelly to facilitate passage.

Answer: (B)

After delivering a gavage feeding, position the child on the right side. This orientation uses gravity to guide the formula toward the pylorus and into the small intestine, promoting gastric emptying and reducing the chance that contents reflux into the esophagus and are aspirated. The other practices aren’t appropriate: injecting a volume of water to check tube placement isn’t reliable and can risk misplacement; petroleum jelly should not be used to lubricate the tube tip because it can contaminate the feed or cause complications; and the feeding duration should follow the prescribed rate rather than a fixed quick time.