PEG tubes

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Hi everybody, I am new to this site and desperately seeking information anyone may have on Nurses, ie RN's, assisting with the insertion of PEG tubes. If anyone has any information and or protocols for this I would love to hear from you. Looking forward to being inundated with replies! Regards Anne

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

Moved to General Nursing Discussion forum.

Can you please be more specific? Working in a GI lab where they are uaually inserted, or be re-inserting them on the nursing unit when they come out and need to be replaced? There are two very different protocols that are followed.

Can you please be more specific? Working in a GI lab where they are uaually inserted, or be re-inserting them on the nursing unit when they come out and need to be replaced? There are two very different protocols that are followed.

Actually I was after information about nurses who actually assist with placing the tubes in the Endoscopy Procedure area. We have RNs here who assist in placing the tube, ie they are scrubbed, do the skin incision and pull the tube through. The DR performs the endoscopy, but we are unsure how common this practice is elsewhere. Thank you for your response. Anne

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

The last time I witnessed a gastrotomy space being surgically created and the PEG tube subsequently being inserted, the two scrub nurses who assisted the surgeons with the procedure were LVNs (licensed vocational nurses). This was at a well-known hospital in southern California.

There is a position statement for RN's placing PEG tubes. Go to the SGNA.org web site. It is posted on there. Good luck

Actually I was after information about nurses who actually assist with placing the tubes in the Endoscopy Procedure area. We have RNs here who assist in placing the tube, ie they are scrubbed, do the skin incision and pull the tube through. The DR performs the endoscopy, but we are unsure how common this practice is elsewhere. Thank you for your response. Anne

Have worked GI lab for many years, and have never seen an RN making the skin incision. Usually always have two doctors in for the procedure., or you could do one physician and one PA. In most states in the US, if not all, it would be a violation of the policies of the Board of Nursing of that state for the RN to be making the incision, inless they had prior certification such as an RNFA, etc. In the US, we are woking 100% under are own license, not that of a physician.

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