Question

A nurse is updating a plan of care for a client who is receiving intermittent enteral feedings and is experiencing diarrhea. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?

a.Discard the client's opened cans of formula within 48 hr.
b.Administer the client's formula cold.
c.Feed the client in small, frequent volumes.
d.Consider a low-calorie formula for the client.

Answer 1

The nurse should feed the client in small, frequent volumes and ensure that opened cans of formula are discarded within 48 hours to prevent worsening of the client's diarrhea. Cold formula should be avoided.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse updating a plan of care for a client receiving intermittent enteral feedings and experiencing diarrhea should consider implementing certain interventions. One such measure is to feed the client in small, frequent volumes. This can help to manage the gastrointestinal (GI) system more effectively and may reduce the incidence of diarrhea. Additionally, the nurse should ensure that opened cans of formula are discarded within 48 hours to prevent bacterial growth, such as that from Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause foodborne illness and exacerbate GI symptoms. The formula should not be administered cold as this can slow gastric emptying and also worsen symptoms of diarrhea; room temperature or slightly warmed formula is often better tolerated. While a low-calorie formula might be appropriate in some cases, there is not enough information provided about the client's overall nutritional status to determine if this would be suitable for this particular situation.