A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving intermittent enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube. Which of the following assessments is the nurse's priority?

A. Constipation is a common but non-life-threatening side effect of enteral feeding and is not the priority. B. Thirst indicates possible fluid imbalance but is not urgent compared to risk of aspiration. C. Abdominal cramping can indicate intolerance to feeding but is not as immediately dangerous. D. Regurgitating the enteral formula is the priority concern because it increases the risk of aspiration, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia—a life-threatening complication. This finding requires immediate intervention.