feeding tube schedule?

[lhorn]

Hi, I am working on a case study, and I have no idea how to develop a feeding schedule without knowing the fluid/nutrient requirements. Any help will be greatly appreciated! The question reads: A 24 year old female patient was admitted to the hospital with multiple fractures when she fell from a cliff while hiking. She had been in the hospital for 7 days and has no appetite. She is in traction and is immobile. The dietitian and the MD have determined that a nasoduodenal tube be placed before her nutritional status deteriorates further. She has lost 8 pounds.The physician's orders specify that the feeding should be given continuously over 18 hours. Develop a tube feeding schedule.

Thanks in advance!

Lindsey

[Justanotherday]

I am not a nurse, so I am interested in the replies. But one of my kids was on a feeding tube for 4 years (g-tube w/feeding pump). He needed about 1,000 calories/day, and his supplement has 355 calories/8 ounces, so he needed 3 of those a day. You can set the rate on the pump to however many ounces per hour you need.

A supplement like Ensure has about 250 calories per 8 ounces.

[K.P.A.]

What's the context of the case study? Are you in a nutrition class?

For nursing, think about bacterial growth in the feeding bag. The bag can only hang for so long before it needs to be replaced, the feed will spoil if kept at room temp for too long, and you'll need to flush on some sort of schedule. Your text may reference some 'good practice' numbers.

[lhorn]

Thx for the input. I posted the exact way the information was given to me, actually copied & pasted it from my assignment. You all seem to have the same problem I did-- there was not enough info given. That is what I put as my answer and explained how I would develop a schedule if given the nutritional amounts required. I'll let you know what my instructor says this week.

Thanks again, Lindsey

[blackhundred]

This is not something a nurse decides. We just implement the order on this one. Strange question they gave you...

[lhorn]

Thanks again, everyone. My instructor said the question was actually written that way on purpose, to see if we stated the need to get more orders from doctor. Sadly, she also said a few student nurses just made up a random 5x a day schedule.

Have a great weekend, and thanks again for being kind!