LEC 8: Administering Oral Medication Via NG Tube Flashcards
1
Q
Medications That Should Not be Crushed
A
- SR: Sustained release
- XR: Extended release
- LA: Long acting
- DA: Delayed action
- ER: Enteric release
- EC: Enteric coated
- Medications that are irritants
- Medications that stain teeth
- Buccal or sublingual medications
2
Q
Adminsitering Oral Medications via a NG Tube
A
- See if liquid prep is available. Ensure pills can be crushed.
- Crush medication into a fine powder and dissolve each medication in at least 15 to 30 mL of warm water
- Verify tube placement by aspirating stomach content and measure the pH
- X-ray for NG tube (gold standard) - Administer each medications separately through tube
- Flush tube with 15 to 30 mL of warm water in between medications
- After all medications are through, flush tube with 30 to 60 mL of warm water
- Record on medication record
- If NG is connected to suction, wait 30 to 90 minutes before reconnecting
- Check agency policy
3
Q
How much water do you dissolve each crushed medication into?
A
At least 15 to 30 mL of warm water
4
Q
How much water do you need to flush through the NG tube between each medication?
A
15 to 30 mL of warm water
5
Q
How much water do you need to flush through the NG tube after adminsitering all the medication?
A
30 to 60 mL of warm water
6
Q
If NG tube is connected to suction, how long do you need to wait before re-attaching suction to NG tube after administering medications?
A
30 to 90 minutes
7
Q
What happens if your tube gets plugged?
A
- Try to administer more warm water, may dissolve in that way
- Withdraw with syringe and push, see if that will mobilize the blockage
- Get an order fro a digestive enzyme and sodium bicarbonate; will hopefully eat away at the blockages and try to push some water through
- May need to discontinue the tube and insert another; last resort
8
Q
What are the 2 types of IV lines?
A
- Peripheral IV
2. Central venous catheters
