title: Enteral feeding for high-risk neonates: a digest for nurses into putative risk and benefits to ensure safe and comfortable care.
abstract: Enteral feeding is considered a relatively safe method of providing nutritional support to high-risk neonates. Nonetheless, there are associated risks, which can be classified as follows: factors to consider before initiating enteral feeding; feeding tube placement; delivery of milk feedings; and gastrointestinal, environmental, and technical factors. For each classification, this article highlights adverse consequences and synthesizes the literature for evidence-based nursing practice recommendations, which are summarized in the "Conclusion" section. Many gaps are identified in the research literature, and directions for future research are described to ensure safe and comfortable care for high-risk neonates receiving enteral feedings.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. premjis@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: Shahirose S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Premji
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008895:Milk, Human; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D018570:Risk Assessment