Medications through NG tubes

[Deli]

Hello Everyone

I am a nursing student so please don't judge me for my lack of knowledge,

But I just had a question regarding proving medications through NG tubes, I understand that we are supposed to clamp them after providing the client medication but why is that? Does it matter regardless of using the NG tube for suction or for feeding?

Thanks in advance!

[chare]

You would clamp the tube ~1 hour after medication administration if the tube was to suction.  This the medications time to empty the stomach.

If being fed through the ttube there is no need to suction after administration. 

[chare]

2 hours ago, chare said:

[...]

If being fed through the ttube there is no need to suction after administration. 

This should be clamp, other suction.

[Deli]

So just to make sure I am understanding correctly. When a patient is using an NG tube for suction it should be clamped after medication administration for 1h, but on the other hand for tube feeds it does not need to be clamped? So why does it need to be clamped why couldn't I just turn off the suction.

[chare]

"Clamped" is just the terminology most people use.  Typically, the tube isn't actually clamped.  At my facility, for all but 6 fr tubes, we generally use an anti-reflux valve to cap the end of the tube.  

While turning the suction off would likely work, disconnecting the suction and capping/clamping the tube is a visual reminder that the tube is not to suction.

[turtlesRcool]

On 2/15/2021 at 12:27 AM, chare said:

"Clamped" is just the terminology most people use.  Typically, the tube isn't actually clamped.  At my facility, for all but 6 fr tubes, we generally use an anti-reflux valve to cap the end of the tube.  

While turning the suction off would likely work, disconnecting the suction and capping/clamping the tube is a visual reminder that the tube is not to suction.

Agreed about the visual reminder.  I'm always afraid I'll forget to turn it back on.

Plus, who wants to be connected to the wall 24/7?  If you are going to turn off the suction, you might as well disconnect and cap it so the patient can have a little freedom.  It's a great time to toilet, bathe, and ambulate the patient without him/her being tethered to the wall.