NG Tube Placement in Lab

Hi guys! I just went to our welcoming reception this morning and I found out that we are going to practice IV, blood draw, injections and NG tube with our partners. I'm starting the program next week and I'm not looking forward to the NG tube part. Can anyone tell me how that is done and do you have any tips on how to do it correctly. I know that we will be trained first before doing it on ourselves but I just want to get a little insight from those of you who have done this before. I'm getting pretty nervous about this one:eek: . I need some advice please. Thanks a lot!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Hi guys! I just went to our welcoming reception this morning and I found out that we are going to practice IV, blood draw, injections and NG tube with our partners. I'm starting the program next week and I'm not looking forward to the NG tube part. Can anyone tell me how that is done and do you have any tips on how to do it correctly. I know that we will be trained first before doing it on ourselves but I just want to get a little insight from those of you who have done this before. I'm getting pretty nervous about this one:eek: . I need some advice please. Thanks a lot!

Most people are more freaked out by needles ... :chuckle

NG tubes aren't the most pleasant experience, but it shouldn't be painful. The basic technique is that the tube length is measured from the tip of your nose, to your ear, and down past your sternum. Once your partner has inserted the tube through your nares (nostril) you'll be asked to start swallowing, and keep on swallowing until the tube is in the proper place. If you're offered the option of swallowing water through a straw during this, take advantage of that.

Welcome & good luck to you! :)

[Wheaties]

i wish i was in your lab, that sounds exciting practicing the skills on real people instead of a mannequin.

[studentnurse74, LPN, LVN]

Most people are more freaked out by needles ... :chuckle

NG tubes aren't the most pleasant experience, but it shouldn't be painful. The basic technique is that the tube length is measured from the tip of your nose, to your ear, and down past your sternum. Once your partner has inserted the tube through your nares (nostril) you'll be asked to start swallowing, and keep on swallowing until the tube is in the proper place. If you're offered the option of swallowing water through a straw during this, take advantage of that.

Welcome & good luck to you! :)

Blehhh....feeling nauseated already...I hope we don't do that in class. When I was a CNA, I remember the nurses giving them to patients and they would never mind, I shouldn't share....

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

What is this college thinking!!! Doing invasive procedures on people who don't need them! This is tantamount to abuse (well maybe not that bad) but this is ridiculous!

[sjt9721, BSN, RN]

I remember we did IVs & injections on each other, and one classmate volunteered to be the patient getting a Dobhoff feeding tube placed. (We did have the option, however, to pass on being the patient.) That was 12 years ago too.

These days all the schools in our area have done away with students practicing on each other. I seem to think liability comes into play somewhere...

[alohagem]

Most people are more freaked out by needles ... :chuckle

NG tubes aren't the most pleasant experience, but it shouldn't be painful. The basic technique is that the tube length is measured from the tip of your nose, to your ear, and down past your sternum. Once your partner has inserted the tube through your nares (nostril) you'll be asked to start swallowing, and keep on swallowing until the tube is in the proper place. If you're offered the option of swallowing water through a straw during this, take advantage of that.

Welcome & good luck to you! :)

You're right! Almost everyone in my clinical group is concerned about the needles. I guess I've been poked quite too many times that's why I'm alright with it. My only problem with needles is that I have difficult veins and everytime I have to go to the hospital, they always had to try it at least 3 times:sniff: or they end up calling the nurse anesthetist or the RN supervisor. Should I tell my instructor about this problem? Anyway, thanks a lot for your advice. You made me feel so much better already:) .

[jschut, BSN, RN]

I know I sure wouldn't want it done on me!

In LPN school, we had the option of allowing a partner to do prcedures on us or not. I usually chose not...teehee..... :chuckle:

[allthingsbright]

So, who is liable for this kind of thing? I think it sounds pretty dangerous to be practicing some of these procedures on other students within a lab setting. Does the school cover your butt if you screw it up? Is the liability like thatw ithin a clinical setting? I think I would find that out before I started putting NG's down the throats of people who dont need them! Hm, interesting!

Anyway, much luck-let us know how it goes!

[alohagem]

So, who is liable for this kind of thing? I think it sounds pretty dangerous to be practicing some of these procedures on other students within a lab setting. Does the school cover your butt if you screw it up? Is the liability like thatw ithin a clinical setting? I think I would find that out before I started putting NG's down the throats of people who dont need them! Hm, interesting!

Anyway, much luck-let us know how it goes!

I'm not sure exactly about the liability. I'm gonna have to ask when our class starts next week. The other student I talked to said that some students end up with with bleeding and broken noses. Can that be true or are they just scaring her? Another one said that some students throw up. I'm really not sure how bad it will be. Hopefully, it will not be as bad as last semester because we have a different instructor now. I guess the previous one was replaced because of students failing. I'll definitely keep you guys posted though.

[mariedoreen]

Getting an NG tube?!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy moly! I've talked to people who have had this done and they say it was one of the worst things they have ever gone through... and they NEEDED it!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot imagine forcing a student to go through such a thing so someone can practice the technique. You have got to be kidding me.

[mitchsmom]

whoa nellie!!!!!! That gives me the heebies!

why don't med students just practice surgery on each other too then? Where do you draw the line?

I would do alot of things if they asked me to but there's no freakin way I'd get an NG tube.

I would want some serious preponderance of supporting evidence for this practice, which I don't think they'd be able to come up with at all.