Need help with hanging bags of liquid nutrition

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I am no longer a nursing student but I am a New RN, but I couldn't figure out under which thread to post my question...I guess this is a good of a place as any. I spike IV bags, prime, and then hang IVs all the time that contain medicine and/or just fluids with no problem, but my homecare patient receives Jevity (liquid nutrition) through a Gtube and of course its a lot thicker than Normal saline, but my issue is that when I try to prime the line HUGE gaps of air appear in the line )i hope u can imagine what im talking about). This is such a simple task so I dont know why this is happening and/or how to prevent this...it happens almost daily and I can't figure out why? could it be because of the thickness of the liquid? how do I resolve this issue?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

First air in a g-tube line isn't as big of a deal as it is for an IV but the pump may not function well as well as giving your patient gas. First, make sure you shake the can thoroughly before you pour it into the bag......let the can rest briefly, to decrease the foam. Have your tubing clamped when attaching the bag to the tubing. Fill the small "chamber" (if there is one) with feeding.......more full than for a standard IV bag. Hang the bag on the hook/pole. Open the clamp slowly and flush the tubing with the feeding then connect to the pump, depending in the pump you may or may not have a purge mode. Purge the tubing one more time off of the patient, then connect tubing to the patient....start the pump. I hope that helps.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Is this feeding on a pump or just free flowing in? If it is on a pump, does the tubing have a separate bag for h20 flush. Our TF's are hung on a pump and the pump will prime the tubing for us, it takes a little longer to prime tho. We also have a flush bag to our set and that is clamped until after the tubing is primed with the feeding then unclamp and hook to pt.

If you do not have a pump, connect the TF to the tubing and keep squeezing the chamber until the FT is primed all the way. A little bit of air will not be a problem.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

First, make sure the line is clamped when you pour in the Jevity. After you have added the right amount, fill the burette (if your tubing as one). If you don't fill the burette first, you'll get air. Then release the clamp and prime the line. I sometimes find that I get a lot of air in the line if the line is not clamped. If that happens I prime the tubing into a cup until all the air is out and then pour the formula bag into the bag.

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Thank you all for your responses..but in this situation I couldnt help but to think of what an old prfoessor used to say: "when you hear hooves, think horses, not zebras" meaning that sometimes the answer to your question, is the simplest one. When priming IVs, I aim the IV down (usually into the garbage or an empty container), because thats what common sense would dictate, But apparently with the tubing for the feeding bag, its counter-intuitive, because you have to keep the champer right side up and hold the tip up towards the cieling. When i aimed the tip of the tubing down (the tip that I would insert into the Gtube) is caused the nutrition to I guess back flow in the tubing thats when large spaces of air in the tubing,

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Thanks so much for taking the time to give advice...I believe I have found the resolution,,I wrote it below!

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