A charge nurse is educating a newly licensed nurse about total parenteral nutrition (TPN) therapy. Which of the following statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A. "I should administer TPN intravenously over 6 hr. TPN is administered continuously over 24 hours using an infusion pump to ensure a steady supply of nutrients and prevent complications such as hyperglycemia or fluid overload. A 6-hour infusion is too rapid and can increase the risk of metabolic imbalances and central line issues. B. "Clients who require long-term nutritional support are prescribed TPN." Clients needing long-term nutritional support may receive TPN, but enteral feeding is preferred when the gastrointestinal tract is functional. TPN is typically reserved for clients who cannot digest or absorb nutrients enterally. C. "I should check the client's gastric residual prior to initiating TPN." Gastric residual volume checks are associated with enteral nutrition, not TPN. TPN bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and is delivered through a central vein, so gastric residuals are not relevant in this context and should not be assessed before starting TPN. D. "TPN is administered for clients who are unable to absorb nutrients from their intestinal tract." This is the most accurate and complete statement. TPN is specifically used when the gastrointestinal tract is nonfunctional or when nutrient absorption is impaired due to conditions like bowel obstruction, short bowel syndrome, or severe pancreatitis.