A client has just been admitted with a 60% total body surface area (TBSA) burn injury. The nurse notes absent bowel sounds in all quadrants. To maintain adequate nutrition the nurse should plan to take which action?

A. Infuse total parenteral nutrition via central catheter: TPN provides complete nutrition intravenously and is used when the gastrointestinal tract is nonfunctional. While TPN is an option in severe burn patients, enteral feeding is preferred when possible because it maintains gut integrity, prevents bacterial translocation, and reduces the risk of sepsis. B. Encourage an oral intake of at least 3000 kcal per day: Severe burn injuries increase metabolic demand significantly, but absent bowel sounds indicate the client cannot safely tolerate oral intake. Attempting oral nutrition risks aspiration and does not ensure adequate caloric delivery in the acute phase. C. Administer multiple vitamins and minerals in the IV solution: Supplementing vitamins and minerals supports overall nutrition but does not provide sufficient macronutrients to meet the hypermetabolic needs of a patient with 60% TBSA burns. Micronutrient supplementation alone is inadequate for maintaining nutritional status. D. Insert a feeding tube and initiate enteral feedings: Enteral nutrition via feeding tube is the preferred method in critically ill burn patients, even with diminished bowel sounds initially. Early enteral feeding supports gut mucosal integrity, reduces bacterial translocation, and meets high caloric and protein requirements. This addresses both nutritional needs and gastrointestinal function support.