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A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving intermittent enteral tube feedings and has diarrhea after each feeding. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent diarrhea after subsequent feedings?

a. Increase the rate of enteral feedings
b. Administer an antidiarrheal medication
c. Switch to a different enteral formula
d. Continue the current feeding regimen

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

To prevent diarrhea after enteral tube feedings, the nurse should consider switching to a different enteral formula that is better tolerated by the patient's digestive system. Administering antidiarrheals provides only short-term relief, while changing the regimen or formula could offer a more long-term solution.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing diarrhea after receiving intermittent enteral tube feedings, the nurse should consider actions that can alleviate this adverse reaction. Increasing the rate of enteral feedings is unlikely to be helpful and may exacerbate the problem.

In this scenario, the best course of action would be to switch to a different enteral formula. Different formulations have varying compositions which can affect an individual's digestive system differently. In some cases, formulas high in certain nutrients, such as fats or fiber, can contribute to diarrhea.

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