Enteral feeding of the critically ill.

The recognition and treatment of malnutrition has been shown to improve the survival of patients. Current research to prevent and improve patient outcome with nutritional interventions in the critically ill is promising. Nurses are responsible for identifying the signs and symptoms of malnutrition, administering nutritional therapy while assessing for complications and side effects associated with these treatments, and monitoring the effectiveness of nutritional interventions. Enteral nutrition in the intensive care unit is addressed specifically in this article, whereas nutritional assessment and the recognition of malnutrition are discussed briefly. Salient points of providing enteral nutrition to intensive care unit patients are presented. Various feeding devices, products, and complications related to enteral nutrition are explained in detail. Comprehensive nursing care as related to the delivery of feeding products through various feeding devices is reviewed. Nursing research applicable to the practice of enteral nutrition in the intensive care unit is presented.