What is an example of enteral nutrition?

What is an example of enteral nutrition?

• A. Coaxing: warming the food, feeding by hand, etc
• B. ITP given through an IV catheter
• C. Fasting or NPO
• D. Water only

Answer: (A)

Enteral nutrition means delivering nutrients into the digestive tract, either by mouth or into the gut via a feeding tube. The example described—coaxing feeding by hand and feeding by mouth, with warmed food—uses the GI tract directly and provides calories through oral intake, so it is enteral. Feeding through an IV catheter delivers nutrients into the bloodstream, bypassing the GI tract, which is parenteral nutrition and not enteral. Fasting or NPO means no intake at all, and water alone provides hydration with no calories, so neither represents nutrition.

Enteral nutrition means delivering nutrients into the digestive tract, either by mouth or into the gut via a feeding tube. The example described—coaxing feeding by hand and feeding by mouth, with warmed food—uses the GI tract directly and provides calories through oral intake, so it is enteral. Feeding through an IV catheter delivers nutrients into the bloodstream, bypassing the GI tract, which is parenteral nutrition and not enteral. Fasting or NPO means no intake at all, and water alone provides hydration with no calories, so neither represents nutrition.