A nurse is preparing to administer intermittent gastric feeding for a client who has a nasogastric tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take prior to the feeding?

A. Apply sterile gloves: Standard precautions are followed when handling feeding equipment, but sterile gloves are not required for routine administration of intermittent gastric feedings. Clean gloves are sufficient to prevent contamination. B. Assess gastric residual volume: Checking gastric residual volume before feeding helps evaluate the client’s tolerance of the previous feeding and reduces the risk of aspiration. High residual volumes may indicate delayed gastric emptying and the need to hold or adjust the feeding. C. Flush the tube with 60 mL of sodium chloride: Flushing the tube is important before and after feedings to maintain patency, but the amount and timing depend on institutional protocol. It is performed after assessing residual volume rather than as the first step. D. Chill the formula: Feeding formulas should generally be at room temperature to prevent gastrointestinal discomfort and cramping. Chilling the formula is not recommended prior to administration.