A nurse is planning care for a client who is receiving continuous enteral tube feedings through an open system. Which of the following Interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?

Rationale: A. Maintain bed elevation at 20°: To reduce the risk of aspiration, the head of the bed should be elevated to at least 30°–45° during and after enteral feedings. A 20° elevation is insufficient to prevent gastric reflux and aspiration. B. Check for gastric residual every 12 hr: Gastric residuals should generally be checked every 4–6 hours for clients receiving continuous enteral feedings. Waiting 12 hours increases the risk of feeding intolerance or aspiration from undetected residual accumulation. C. Flush the tubing with 30 mL of water every 4 hr: Routine flushing helps prevent tube occlusion and maintains patency. It also ensures that the client receives adequate hydration, especially with continuous feeding systems. D. Place enough formula in the container to last 18 hr: Formula in an open system should not hang longer than 4 hours due to the risk of bacterial contamination. Adding 18 hours’ worth increases the chance of microbial growth and infection.