sterile or tap water for meds?

[wanderlust99]

When giving meds through a NG tube, peg tube, DHT, whatever....do you use sterile water or tap water?

I have always used tap water until I started a new job where they use sterile water. This is strange to me. I was told tap water has contaminants that aren't good for our already at risk patients. Is this true?

I drink tap water. Do hospitals have a special kind of tap water that isn't drinkable?? I've never known anyone to drink sterile water, I can't remember why it's bad for you, but it is right?:)

Thanks:)

[sugar plum]

I always use tap water.

[Jennao10RN]

When I was in homecare I had to have parents try to switch from tap water (which they were boiling as per doc request) to nursery water due to babies getting diarrhea. It worked no more diarrhea. My only guess was something that boiling was not removing from the water was causing the problem.

I believe that the correct choice would be what does your patient tolerate? If there is a policy for your hospital just make sure you follow it.

[sicushells, RN]

When I was in homecare I had to have parents try to switch from tap water (which they were boiling as per doc request) to nursery water due to babies getting diarrhea. It worked no more diarrhea. My only guess was something that boiling was not removing from the water was causing the problem.

I believe that the correct choice would be what does your patient tolerate? If there is a policy for your hospital just make sure you follow it.

To sterilize water, you need to boil it for 20 minutes. I wonder if they were doing it for long enough?

Also, my hospital's policy is tap water unless the patient is neutrapenic. Then we're supposed to use sterile water. Most nurses use sterile water regardless, but I don't (I'm just a rebel that way, haha)