Our hospital is currently reviewing our policy on the insertion of Dobhoff tubes (small-bore NG tubes used for feeding/meds) and I thought I would go to the best possible source for input.
At our community hospital, RNs on all units insert them and verify placement via stat KUB. However, in our review we have found that many local hospitals have changed to physician (usually resident) or advance practice nurse insertion only.
How does it go at your hospital? Who inserts dobhoff tubes? If RN, is that true of ICU RNs only or on all units (if you know)?
Thanks so much for your feedback!
Could you also tell me the name of your hospital? The info will only be used to make our case to our administrators and for our information. Feel free to send a private message if you are more comfortable.
We use corpaks and only ICU nurses can place them. Confirmed by KUB. We only. ever do dobhoffs if we can't get the corpak post pyloric for some reason-- the dh is placed in IR by a doc in that circumstance.
Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.
"random online opinions"? Tait, I generally enjoy your posts but really...how about real life experiences? Who says that EBP isn't being used and we are just helping to satisfy curiosity of current practices across the country...tha'ts why I come to ALLNURSES and the cartoons are pretty good too.
I work on a Med-Surg (more Surg) floor in a teaching/Level 1 trauma/Magnet hospital in Illinois. Any floor nurse that has been signed off on the skill (as you would in orientation) can insert a Dobhoff. MD verifies placement via KUB. Gaurd-wire stays in until verified.
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
"random online opinions"? Tait, I generally enjoy your posts but really...how about real life experiences? Who says that EBP isn't being used and we are just helping to satisfy curiosity of current practices across the country...tha'ts why I come to ALLNURSES and the cartoons are pretty good too.
I.
I wasn't trying to be offensive and should have just left that off. You are correct that there are lots of great experiences here that are much more valuable than "random". I guess all my recent EBP work with school just left me thinking this wasn't the "best" place the OP had to gather information as they stated. But that doesn't mean it can't be A place to ask.
When I did my practicum and capstone I just realized how eager (through presentations and meetings) the medical librarians were to help gather research and information. A vital resource that so few use.
Every place I've worked RN can insert and X-ray done for placement. I don't see the difference between ngt and dobhoff. Ones smaller and both going to the same place
Wut...Dobhoffs need to be in the second loop of the duodenum or at least close, they are not the same placement and have very different purposes.
RNs at my hospital place them but if we can't get it, IR does.
first, DobHoff is a brand name. There are various types of weighted tubes. We had an incident a few years ago where a brand new to us was inserted in the OR. Of course the OR nurses throw the paperwork away that comes in the package. The ICU nurses assumed since it had two ports it could be used for meds + feeding as well as IV fluids. WRONG. The package clearly stated no meds in these ports, but who knew? Patient had to return to surgery. Since then we have them inserted in special procedures (radiology) with guided imaging. Not just that type, but every weighted tube. There is a lot of guessing going on otherwise.
NurseKatie08, MSN
754 Posts
Residents insert Dobhoffs at my hospital, with a KUB to verify placement. I work north of Boston.