Key Concepts
Overview
Enteral nutrition (tube feeding) is the preferred method of nutritional support when the GI tract is functional but oral intake is insufficient. NCLEX-RN (Canadian NCLEX-RN) tests: tube placement verification methods, aspiration prevention, gastric residual volumes, and tube feeding complications. The RN is responsible for safe tube feeding administration and monitoring. When to use enteral vs. parenteral: Enteral first โ "if the gut works, use it." The GI tract requires luminal nutrition to maintain mucosal integrity, prevent bacterial translocation, and support gut immunity. TPN bypasses these benefits and carries higher infection risk. On the exam, writers often pair stable-sounding options with unstable dataโnotice the mismatch before you commit. If the stem names a license or role, reread that line; scope errors are classic trap answers even when the clinical topic is familiar. Run a 60-second scan: breathing work and oxygenation, perfusion and end organs, neuro baseline, likely infection sources, and devices that can fail quietly. When two answers feel partly right, pick the one that reduces imminent harm and matches orders for the role you were given. Train yourself to state...