Which option describes enteral nutrition?

Which option describes enteral nutrition?

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

Answer: (C)

Enteral nutrition means delivering nutrients into the digestive tract, either by mouth or through a feeding tube. When you coax the patient to eat by hand and warm the food to help intake, the nutrients still enter the GI tract through the mouth, so that is enteral nutrition. The other options don’t fit because they involve bypassing the GI tract or providing no nutrients: delivering nutrition through an IV catheter is parenteral nutrition, fasting or NPO means no intake, and water only provides hydration without calories or essential nutrients.

Enteral nutrition means delivering nutrients into the digestive tract, either by mouth or through a feeding tube. When you coax the patient to eat by hand and warm the food to help intake, the nutrients still enter the GI tract through the mouth, so that is enteral nutrition. The other options don’t fit because they involve bypassing the GI tract or providing no nutrients: delivering nutrition through an IV catheter is parenteral nutrition, fasting or NPO means no intake, and water only provides hydration without calories or essential nutrients.