A client receiving intermittent enteral feedings has a lab value that indicates the need to change the formula. Which value indicates this?

A client receiving intermittent enteral feedings has a lab value that indicates the need to change the formula. Which value indicates this?

• A. BUN 28 mg/dL
• B. Hematocrit 42%
• C. Urine specific gravity 1.022
• D. Sodium 142 mEq/L

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that nitrogen load from the formula and how well the kidneys are clearing it guide whether the enteral feed needs to change. BUN measures blood urea nitrogen, a waste product from protein metabolism. An elevated BUN, such as 28 mg/dL, suggests the current protein provision may be too high for this patient or that renal clearance or hydration is suboptimal. In practice, that prompts switching to a formula with lower protein content or a renal-formula option and ensuring adequate fluids, so the nitrogen burden matches the patient’s tolerance and kidney function. The other values aren’t driving a formula change in this scenario: hematocrit at 42% is within normal limits, urine specific gravity 1.022 is not a definitive signal to modify the formula, and sodium at 142 mEq/L is normal.

The main idea is that nitrogen load from the formula and how well the kidneys are clearing it guide whether the enteral feed needs to change. BUN measures blood urea nitrogen, a waste product from protein metabolism. An elevated BUN, such as 28 mg/dL, suggests the current protein provision may be too high for this patient or that renal clearance or hydration is suboptimal. In practice, that prompts switching to a formula with lower protein content or a renal-formula option and ensuring adequate fluids, so the nitrogen burden matches the patient’s tolerance and kidney function.

The other values aren’t driving a formula change in this scenario: hematocrit at 42% is within normal limits, urine specific gravity 1.022 is not a definitive signal to modify the formula, and sodium at 142 mEq/L is normal.