A newborn with a repaired gastroschisis is transferred to the pediatric unit after several days in the pediatric intensive care unit. The infant is receiving parenteral nutrition and continuous enteral feedings. To maintain normal growth and development of the infant, which action should the nurse include in plan of care?

A. Ensure placement of the enteral tube with an abdominal x-ray: Verifying enteral tube placement is essential for safety, but it is not related to maintaining the newborn's growth and development. Tube placement should already have been verified prior to initiating feedings. B. Speak to the healthcare provider about instituting physical therapy: Physical therapy may be beneficial for infants with specific motor delays, but it is not a routine intervention for all infants recovering from gastroschisis. C. Offer a pacifier for non-nutritive sucking: Non-nutritive sucking (e.g., using a pacifier) is crucial for the growth and development of newborns, especially those unable to feed orally. It helps promote oral-motor development, soothes the infant, and lays the foundation for transitioning to oral feeding. This is particularly important for an infant receiving parenteral or enteral nutrition to ensure they develop the skills and comfort needed for future oral feeding. D. Use sterile technique during feedings: Clean technique is generally sufficient or routine enteral feedings unless there is a specific indication for sterility (e.g., immunocompromised clients). Further, this does not directly support growth and development.