N105: Essentials of Nursing Care - Health Differences

Essentials of Nursing Study Guide

1.6 Nutritional Support Enteral nutrition is the ingestion of food orally and the delivery of nutrients through a GI tube. Nasogastric tubes (or a Levine Tube) and a Salem sump tube are used for short term feedings. Nasoenteric tubes are used for clients at risk for aspiration. Gastrostomy and jejunostomy tubes are used for long term feeding and are placed surgically. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) tubes may also be used.

©2017 Achieve Test Prep Page 27 of 160 Nasogastric Tube Insertion Tubes are usually inserted by nurses or doctors at the bedside. External measurement from the tip of the nose to a point halfway between the xiphoid and the umbilicus distance gives a rough idea of the required length. The patient should sit up, without any head tilt (chin up). An appropriately sized tube is chosen and the tip is lubricated by smearing aqua gel or local anesthetic gel. Anesthetic gel is a drug so if it is used it must be prescribed, and precautions taken such as checking for allergies. The wider nostril is chosen and the tube slid down along the floor of the nasal cavity. Patients often gag when the tube reaches the pharynx. Asking them to swallow their saliva or a small amount of water may help to direct the tube into the esophagus. Once in the esophagus, it may be easy to push it down into the stomach. The tube is fixed to the nose and forehead using adhesive tapes. The stomach is decompressed by attaching a 60ml syringe and aspirating its contents. Blocked tubes can be flushed open with saline or air.