Insertion small bore feeding tubes??

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Do RN's in any of your hospitals insert weighted nasointestinal (post-gastric) feeding tubes? I am in discussion with our radiologists who would nurses to insert these and get placement x-ray in a few hours. Any practice guideline insights?:no:

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

An APN with specific training and competency reviews would not have a problem with it. Unsure if it is in the RN scope of practice though. Would advise checking with your state BON.

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An APN with specific training and competency reviews would not have a problem with it. Unsure if it is in the RN scope of practice though. Would advise checking with your state BON.

I would agree with the above. The other issue is that while putting down a weighted feeding tube may be within an RN scope of practice, interpreting an X-ray probably is not. You also don't usually get reimbursed for placing these unless you do it under flouro which is another issue.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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Specializes in CTICU, Rapid Response Team, telemetry.

I have worked in a few hospitals and the RN does not insert NG tubes of any kind.

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Specializes in Author/Business Coach.

We put in those weighted "Corpacks" or "Dubbhoffs" and they are a pain! They get twisted up so easily and it takes so long to get the x-ray and verify placement. Not good if you have to replace it 2 or 3 times. I'd much rather place a plain NGT. They are so much easier to place.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
I have worked in a few hospitals and the RN does not insert NG tubes of any kind.

This is quite surprising. When I was practicing at the bedside we routinely put down Dobhoffs and NG tubes of all types. That is a basic nursing skill. I'm not sure what type of tube OP, trauma and David are referring to. If it is out of RN scope of practice, it must not be a Dobhoff they are speaking of as I was thinking? I've been out of acute care for a few years now, enlighten me guys.

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Specializes in Pedatrics, Child Protection.

I have also placed weighted NG tubes...anything lower (ND, NJ) had to be done by a radiologist under fluro.

CXR was done to confirm placement but interpreted by MD.

RNAnnjeh

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I have also placed weighted NG tubes...anything lower (ND, NJ) had to be done by a radiologist under fluro.

CXR was done to confirm placement but interpreted by MD.

RNAnnjeh

I usually order a kub not chest x-ray. Chesat x-ray you can miss the distal end of the feeding tube.

Jeremy

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
I usually order a kub not chest x-ray. Chesat x-ray you can miss the distal end of the feeding tube.

Jeremy

Yeah, our policy was stat KUB and if done after hours, it was to be read by ER doc.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

Ya know, I just went back and read the OP and she wrote post-gastric. I knew I was missing something. See what happens when you don't read boys and girls? ;) And no we did not do those on the floor. Like trauma, I wonder if it wouldn't be out of our scope of practice.

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Specializes in Pedatrics, Child Protection.
I usually order a kub not chest x-ray. Chesat x-ray you can miss the distal end of the feeding tube.

Jeremy

OMG...vacation brain! I meant abdo xray. Thank's for spotting that!!:wink2:

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.

We do these at our hospital all the time, especially in our PICU. Our nurses can insert all feeding tubes..including post-gastric. We just get a KUB after and a doc reads it.

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