What action should a nurse take to prevent diarrhea in a client receiving enteral tube feedings?

Reducing the rate of the feeding is an effective action to prevent diarrhea in clients receiving enteral tube feedings. When enteral nutrition is administered too quickly, it may exceed the client's gastrointestinal tolerance, leading to side effects such as diarrhea. Slowing the infusion rate allows for better absorption of nutrients and can help decrease gastrointestinal distress, which in turn reduces the likelihood of diarrhea.

Maintaining a slower feeding rate helps ensure that the formula is adequately absorbed in the intestines, allowing the body more time to process the nutrients. This is particularly important for clients who may already have compromised gastrointestinal function or a high risk for diarrhea due to their health status.

The other actions mentioned, while important in their own contexts, do not directly address the prevention of diarrhea in the same manner. For example, chilling the formula before administration, though it may enhance comfort and tolerance for some clients, does not necessarily prevent diarrhea. Verifying feeding tube placement is crucial for ensuring the feeding goes into the correct position, while positioning the client supine during feeding is not ideal and could complicate the feeding process or lead to aspiration risks.