CCURN86

Flex-Seal. Pretty expensive (not sure how it compares to other brands). It usually works well if you take care of it, keep the tubing straight, and flush it Q4. They leak small amounts occasionally for some patients, but save you the bulk of the mess and definitely save the patient's skin.

I work in critical care at a hospital with pages of standing orders and protocols for almost everything. Nurses can order ABGs, basic labs, 12 lead, chest x-ray, KUB, swallow evaluation, advance/hold tube feed, replace and recheck electrolytes, initiate and advance mobility status (i.e. crack the whip and make the patient walk his ventilator down the hall), consult other nursing disciplines, ect. It is all in the order sets. I don't think you find that kind of autonomy often though.