Final answer:
Before an intermittent enteral feeding through a nasogastric tube, the nurse's priority assessment is to measure the gastric residual volume to ensure the previous feeding has been digested and that there's minimal risk of aspiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse is preparing to administer an intermittent enteral feeding through a nasogastric (NG) tube, a priority assessment she should perform is the measurement of gastric residual volume (GRV). This involves aspirating stomach contents to estimate how much feeding remains in the stomach before administering more. Evaluating GRV helps to minimize the risk of aspiration and to ensure that the previous feeding has been adequately digested.
Additional assessments before enteral feeding via NG tube might also include checking the placement of the NG tube, ensuring it’s in the correct position, and assessing for signs of possible infection or complications. Monitoring for proper gastric function and assessing the integrity of the gastro-intestinal mucosa alongside measurements of gastric components like total chloride, occult blood, free HCl, lactic acid, bile pigments, and peptic activity can provide insights into the stomach's absorptive and digestive capabilities.