Enteral feeding is also known as, except?

Appeared in: SGPGI Nursing Officer-2022

Explanation

The question requires identifying the term that is not a synonym for enteral feeding.
Enteral feeding specifically refers to delivering nutrition via a tube into the gastrointestinal tract, bypassing the mouth.
Spoon feeding is a method of oral feeding, where food is ingested through the mouth.
Therefore, spoon feeding is the correct exception as it is not a form of tube feeding.

Option A: Ryle's tube is a type of nasogastric (NG) tube used for short-term enteral feeding, making it a method of enteral nutrition.
Option B: Gavage is the medical term for tube feeding. It involves administering liquid nutrition through a tube into the stomach.
Option C: NG (Nasogastric) tube feeding is a primary and common method of enteral nutrition.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Methods of nutritional delivery, specifically distinguishing enteral feeding from oral feeding as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must accurately document the method of feeding (enteral vs. oral) to ensure a correct assessment of a patient's nutritional intake and status.
A primary nursing responsibility for patients on enteral feeds is to prevent aspiration by keeping the head of the bed elevated at 30-45 degrees during and after feeding.
What if? If a patient with an NG tube for decompression begins to recover bowel function, the physician might order a switch from suction to enteral feeding through the same tube, changing the nursing care from monitoring output to administering nutrition.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept in the stem, which is 'Enteral feeding'.
Recognize the negative keyword 'except'. This signals that you must find the option that does NOT fit the definition of the core concept.
Define 'Enteral feeding' in your mind: It is nutrition delivered via a tube into the GI tract.
Evaluate each option against this definition.
Ryle's tube feeding, Gavage, and NG tube feeding are all methods involving a tube.
Spoon feeding involves the mouth, not a tube. This is the outlier.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Methods of nutritional delivery, specifically distinguishing enteral feeding from oral feeding.
Stem keywords: Enteral feeding, also known as
Lead-in keywords: except
Negative lead-in flag: Question asks for the exception.

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 5 p. 201-203

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 2 p. 89-91

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