ATI Enteral Feeding Comprehensive Nursing Review Guide: Complete NG Tube
and Gastrostomy Tube Feeding Management, Enteral Nutrition Administration
Procedures, Tube Placement Verification, Patient Assessment, Safety
Precautions, Feeding Complications, Medication Administration Through
Feeding Tubes, Nutritional Support Strategies, and Evidence-Based Nursing Care
for Safe Patient Outcomes
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has a functioning gastrointestinal tract but is
unable to eat orally due to dysphagia following a stroke. Which method of
nutrition support should the nurse anticipate?
A. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
B. Peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN)
C. Enteral tube feeding
D. Clear liquid diet
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Enteral nutrition is indicated when the client has a functioning GI tract
but cannot consume adequate nutrition orally. Conditions such as stroke,
advanced Parkinson's disease, and coma are common indications for enteral
feeding. TPN is reserved for clients with non-functioning GI tracts. A clear liquid
diet would not provide adequate nutrition for this client.
Question 2
A client with severe pancreatitis and total intestinal obstruction is being evaluated
for nutritional support. Which of the following would be a contraindication to
enteral feeding?
A. Dysphagia
B. Coma
C. Total intestinal obstruction
D. Burns
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Total intestinal obstruction is a contraindication to enteral nutrition
because the feed cannot pass through the obstructed bowel. Other
contraindications include paralytic ileus, severe diarrhea, and malabsorption.
Dysphagia, coma, and burns are all indications for enteral feeding when the GI
tract is functional.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a client for enteral feeding. Which condition indicates that
enteral nutrition would be appropriate?
A. Paralytic ileus
B. Short bowel syndrome with malabsorption
C. Severe dysphagia
D. GI fistula with output distal to the feeding tube
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Severe dysphagia is an appropriate indication for enteral feeding as the
client has a functional GI tract but cannot safely consume food orally. Paralytic
ileus, short bowel syndrome with severe malabsorption, and GI fistulas with
output distal to the tube are contraindications or relative contraindications to
enteral feeding.
Question 4
A nurse is evaluating a client for enteral nutrition. Which client would be the BEST
candidate for enteral feeding?
A. A client with complete bowel obstruction
B. A client with a functioning GI tract who is unable to swallow
C. A client with severe malabsorption syndrome
D. A client with prolonged paralytic ileus
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ideal candidate for enteral feeding has a functioning GI tract but is
unable to take adequate nutrition orally. Clients with complete bowel
,obstruction, severe malabsorption, or prolonged paralytic ileus typically require
parenteral nutrition because their GI tracts cannot absorb nutrients effectively.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for an infant who is too weak to suck effectively. The provider
has ordered enteral feedings. This method of feeding an infant is also known as:
A. Parenteral nutrition
B. Gavage feeding
C. Total parenteral nutrition
D. Oral rehydration therapy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Enteral feeding for an infant who is too weak to suck, unable to
coordinate swallowing, or lacks a gag reflex is called gavage feeding. This involves
placing a tube through the nose or mouth into the stomach to deliver nutrition.
Question 6
A nurse is reviewing contraindications to enteral feeding with a new graduate.
Which of the following should the nurse include as an absolute contraindication?
A. Dementia
B. Stroke with dysphagia
C. Bowel ischemia
D. Facial trauma
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bowel ischemia is an absolute contraindication to enteral feeding
because the compromised blood supply to the bowel increases the risk of
necrosis and perforation. Dementia, stroke with dysphagia, and facial trauma are
all indications for enteral feeding when the GI tract is functional.
Question 7
, A client has been diagnosed with a high-output intestinal fistula. The nurse should
anticipate which type of nutritional support?
A. Enteral feeding via nasogastric tube
B. Total parenteral nutrition
C. Oral nutrition with high-calorie supplements
D. Enteral feeding via jejunostomy tube
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: High-output intestinal fistulas can result in significant nutrient loss and
may be a contraindication to enteral feeding, especially if the fistula is distal to
the feeding tube. TPN may be required to meet nutritional needs while allowing
the bowel to rest.
Question 8
A nurse is preparing to initiate enteral feedings for a client who has burns
covering 40% of total body surface area. What is the primary rationale for
choosing enteral nutrition in this client?
A. Enteral nutrition is less expensive than parenteral nutrition
B. Enteral nutrition maintains gut integrity and reduces bacterial translocation
C. Enteral nutrition requires less nursing time
D. Enteral nutrition provides more calories per milliliter
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In critically ill clients such as those with burns, enteral nutrition is
preferred because it maintains gastrointestinal mucosal integrity and function,
reducing the risk of bacterial translocation and sepsis. While enteral nutrition may
be less expensive, the primary clinical benefit is gut protection.
Question 9
A client with advanced Parkinson's disease is experiencing severe dysphagia and
weight loss. The nurse should anticipate which intervention?
and Gastrostomy Tube Feeding Management, Enteral Nutrition Administration
Procedures, Tube Placement Verification, Patient Assessment, Safety
Precautions, Feeding Complications, Medication Administration Through
Feeding Tubes, Nutritional Support Strategies, and Evidence-Based Nursing Care
for Safe Patient Outcomes
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has a functioning gastrointestinal tract but is
unable to eat orally due to dysphagia following a stroke. Which method of
nutrition support should the nurse anticipate?
A. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
B. Peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN)
C. Enteral tube feeding
D. Clear liquid diet
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Enteral nutrition is indicated when the client has a functioning GI tract
but cannot consume adequate nutrition orally. Conditions such as stroke,
advanced Parkinson's disease, and coma are common indications for enteral
feeding. TPN is reserved for clients with non-functioning GI tracts. A clear liquid
diet would not provide adequate nutrition for this client.
Question 2
A client with severe pancreatitis and total intestinal obstruction is being evaluated
for nutritional support. Which of the following would be a contraindication to
enteral feeding?
A. Dysphagia
B. Coma
C. Total intestinal obstruction
D. Burns
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Total intestinal obstruction is a contraindication to enteral nutrition
because the feed cannot pass through the obstructed bowel. Other
contraindications include paralytic ileus, severe diarrhea, and malabsorption.
Dysphagia, coma, and burns are all indications for enteral feeding when the GI
tract is functional.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a client for enteral feeding. Which condition indicates that
enteral nutrition would be appropriate?
A. Paralytic ileus
B. Short bowel syndrome with malabsorption
C. Severe dysphagia
D. GI fistula with output distal to the feeding tube
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Severe dysphagia is an appropriate indication for enteral feeding as the
client has a functional GI tract but cannot safely consume food orally. Paralytic
ileus, short bowel syndrome with severe malabsorption, and GI fistulas with
output distal to the tube are contraindications or relative contraindications to
enteral feeding.
Question 4
A nurse is evaluating a client for enteral nutrition. Which client would be the BEST
candidate for enteral feeding?
A. A client with complete bowel obstruction
B. A client with a functioning GI tract who is unable to swallow
C. A client with severe malabsorption syndrome
D. A client with prolonged paralytic ileus
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ideal candidate for enteral feeding has a functioning GI tract but is
unable to take adequate nutrition orally. Clients with complete bowel
,obstruction, severe malabsorption, or prolonged paralytic ileus typically require
parenteral nutrition because their GI tracts cannot absorb nutrients effectively.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for an infant who is too weak to suck effectively. The provider
has ordered enteral feedings. This method of feeding an infant is also known as:
A. Parenteral nutrition
B. Gavage feeding
C. Total parenteral nutrition
D. Oral rehydration therapy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Enteral feeding for an infant who is too weak to suck, unable to
coordinate swallowing, or lacks a gag reflex is called gavage feeding. This involves
placing a tube through the nose or mouth into the stomach to deliver nutrition.
Question 6
A nurse is reviewing contraindications to enteral feeding with a new graduate.
Which of the following should the nurse include as an absolute contraindication?
A. Dementia
B. Stroke with dysphagia
C. Bowel ischemia
D. Facial trauma
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bowel ischemia is an absolute contraindication to enteral feeding
because the compromised blood supply to the bowel increases the risk of
necrosis and perforation. Dementia, stroke with dysphagia, and facial trauma are
all indications for enteral feeding when the GI tract is functional.
Question 7
, A client has been diagnosed with a high-output intestinal fistula. The nurse should
anticipate which type of nutritional support?
A. Enteral feeding via nasogastric tube
B. Total parenteral nutrition
C. Oral nutrition with high-calorie supplements
D. Enteral feeding via jejunostomy tube
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: High-output intestinal fistulas can result in significant nutrient loss and
may be a contraindication to enteral feeding, especially if the fistula is distal to
the feeding tube. TPN may be required to meet nutritional needs while allowing
the bowel to rest.
Question 8
A nurse is preparing to initiate enteral feedings for a client who has burns
covering 40% of total body surface area. What is the primary rationale for
choosing enteral nutrition in this client?
A. Enteral nutrition is less expensive than parenteral nutrition
B. Enteral nutrition maintains gut integrity and reduces bacterial translocation
C. Enteral nutrition requires less nursing time
D. Enteral nutrition provides more calories per milliliter
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In critically ill clients such as those with burns, enteral nutrition is
preferred because it maintains gastrointestinal mucosal integrity and function,
reducing the risk of bacterial translocation and sepsis. While enteral nutrition may
be less expensive, the primary clinical benefit is gut protection.
Question 9
A client with advanced Parkinson's disease is experiencing severe dysphagia and
weight loss. The nurse should anticipate which intervention?
