G-tube supplies

[Murrphy66]

How often should you change the syringe for medication administration? we have the nice ones that have a label to attach to the holder. As long as the nurses are rinsing them-only one patient here has a g-tube so can it be used for a few days. What is the standard.

[OldDude]

In the hospital it's a single use thing...but in my clinic I use that stuff until I can feel the plunger start to "drag;" since it's only used for the same student and same medicine. I've had supplies brought from home that looked like it had been used in a rugby game.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

Knowing that parents use the thing over and over (because they can) - what do the orders say?

[AdobeRN]

In the hospital it's a single use thing...but in my clinic I use that stuff until I can feel the plunger start to "drag;" since it's only used for the same student and same medicine. I've had supplies brought from home that looked like it had been used in a rugby game.

Yep - I do the same. I use it until it drags, rubber plunger part breaks off or the measurement marking wear off.

[LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN]

I would ask the parents what they prefer. Often is ends up being an insurance thing of how many they are provided for a timeframe, and sometimes insurance won't factor in that one needs to be left at school. I like to give ample time to request a replacement, too, since there isn't always a stockpile at home. I've been lucky enough that a parent gave a whole box of various ones once their child's GT was d/c'd. :)

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

I agree with what a few of the other posters have said. When I worked in home care we used them until the measurement lines wore off or until the rubber on the plunger wore out and it didn't work anymore. We had dozens and dozens of them and threw the used ones in a large emesis basin and the night nurses would clean them with regular dish soap and water and let them air dry. Same for our G tube extension sets. We'd use them and rinse them out really well and let them air dry until they just got too gunky inside and the formula wouldn't flow nicely through them.