Tricks for putting down NG tubes?

The drink and the ice were my two suggestions...since you already did that there probably wasn't much more you could do. Every once in a while you just get a difficult patient and it takes a couple of tries.

I hate DHT's...

I find someone who likes to put them in to do mine!!

Thats my trick

ICE ICE ICE the tube. If you can get the tube cold enough to hold shape when bent- curve the tip 45 degrees and insert it into the most open nostril with the curve arching downward. Once you are in the pharnyx rotate the tube 90 degrees to position the tip toward the back of the throat. Watch the patient for swallowing. As they swallow advance very quickly, after swallowing advance more slowly. Most insertions will become more difficult the longer you are in the throat-the tube becomes soft and coils, the patients' gag reflex is more and more irritated, so the faster the advance the better even if a patient dosn't swallow at all.

I hate DHT's...

I find someone who likes to put them in to do mine!!

Thats my trick

:lol2: You would be looking for me....I'll do NG's all day I just don't want to put an IV in a baby . I just curl mine several times around my finger. Look for the most open nostril....lube it up really good...curve down, aim toward the ear on my way down, sometime rotating a bit....have them swallow (water), when they gag.....then advance, advance, advance. I also pt my hand behind their head to kinda help keep chin to chest.

Sometimes I spray a little cetacaine in the back of the throat. Helps it be a little less painful. I've also seen nurses put the NGT in icewater before inserting it.

I know some nurses who put the NG tube in the freezer, to keep them stiff. And one doc who tells us to use xylocaine jelly in the nare a few minutes before we insert the tube, to make it less traumatic for the patient.

I'm just a nursing student, but when we were taught how to do NG tubes we were taught to never use ice or cold water on an NG tube because it stiffens the tube and can cause trauma to the patients membranes. Now, I'm sure things are different in the real world of nursing, but just curious if this was a trick you were taught in school or what because we were told we can never do that.

We were basically taught to lube up the tube, angle it back towards the ears twirling the tube helping to ease the insertion, then when the client gags have them go chin to chest and swallow water and push the tube down further while they swallow.

We get an order for lidocaine 2% neb tx. Makes it comfortable for the patient. This makes it easier to pass because the patient is not reflexively fighting the tube going down.

I know some nurses who put the NG tube in the freezer, to keep them stiff. And one doc who tells us to use xylocaine jelly in the nare a few minutes before we insert the tube, to make it less traumatic for the patient.

i have frozen my ng tubes for yrs.

right before placing, i curve the end at approx 20-30 angle.

never coils.

leslie

I love placing NG tubes, I never miss although now I've gone and jinxed myself

I do all of the above, sit up, chin on chest, clear instructions, get them to drink and if possible with a straw as I find it helps. Get them to concentrate on swallowing and push the tube when they are swallowing.

It is always more difficult with confused patients as they don't always understand the instructions.

I missed once. I put it in one nare and it came out the other.