NAME: _______________________________________________________________

(Surname) (Given Name) (Middle Name)

YEAR AND BLOCK: ____________________

Administering a Tube Feeding

Purpose: To restore or maintain nutritional status and to administer medications.

Before commencing nasogastric feeding, determine the type amount, and frequency of feedings.

PREPARATION MET NOT MET NOTES

1. Safety considerations:
● Perform hand hygiene.
● Check room for additional precautions.
● Introduce yourself to patient.
● Confirm client ID using two client
identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth).
● Explain process to client; offer analgesia,
bathroom, etc.
● Listen and attend to client cues.
● Ensure client’s privacy and dignity.
● Assess ABC/suction/oxygen/safety.
● Apply principles of asepsis and safety.
● Check vital signs.
● Complete necessary focused assessments.
PROCEDURES MET NOT MET NOTES
1. Perform hand hygiene and gather supplies.
Check doctor’s orders.
a) Correct amount of feeding solution
b) 20 to 50 ml syringe with an adapter
c) Emesis basin
d) Bulb syringe (for an intermittent
feeding)
e) Calibrated plastic feeding bag and a
drip chamber, which can be attached to
the tubing or pre-filled bottle with a
drip chamber, tubing, and a flow
regulator clamp.
f) Measuring container from which to
power the feeding (if using bulb
syringe)
g) Water (60 ml unless otherwise
specified) at room temperature
h) Feeding pump (optional)
2. Prepare the client and the feeding
a) Explain the client about the feeding
b) Provide privacy
c) Position the client in Fowler’s position
in bed or sitting position in a chair
d) Position a small child or infant in your
lap, and provide a pacifier during
feeding
3. Assess tube placement. Attach the syringe to
the open end of the tube, aspirate alimentary
secretions. Check the PH.
4. Assess residual feeding contents
a) Aspirate all the stomach contents, and
measure the amount prior to
administering the feeding. If 50 ml or
more undigested formula is
withdrawn in adults, or 10 ml or more
in infants, check with the nurse in
charge before proceeding.
b) Reinstill the gastric contents in to the
stomach if this is the agency or
physician’s practice. Remove the
syringe bulb or plunger, and pour the
gastric contents via the syringe in to
the nasogastric tube.
5. Administer the feeding
Before administering feeding:
a) Check the expiration date of the
feeding
b) Warm the feeding to room temperature
Bulb syringe
a) Remove the bulb from the syringe, and
connect the syringe to a pinched or
clamped nasogastric tube
b) Add feeding to the syringe barrel
c) Permit the feeding to flow in slowly at
the prescribed rate. Raise or lower the
syringe to adjust the flow as needed.
Pinch or clamp the tubing to stop the
flow for a minute if the client
experiences discomfort.
6. Rinse the feeding tube immediately before all
the formula has run through the tubing:
Instill 60 ml of water the feeding tube
Be sure to add the water before the feeding
solution has drained from the neck of a
bulb syringe or from the tubing of an
administration set.
7. Clamp and cover the feeding tube
a. Clamp the feeding tube before all of
the water is instilled
b) Cover the end of the feeding tube with
gauze held by an elastic band
8. Ensure client comfort and safety
a) Pin the tubing to the clients gown Your body is most comfortable digesting food in an upright
b) Ask the client to remain sitting position, as it allows for easy digestion. Lying down
upright in Fowler’s position or in immediately after eating a light meal for dinner can
cause the stomach contents to reflux into the oesophagus,
slightly elevated right lateral position triggering symptoms of GERD and heartburn.
for at least 30 minutes.
9. Dispose of equipment appropriately
a) If the equipment is to be reused, wash
with soap and water so that it is ready
for reuse.
b) Change the equipment every 24 hours
or according to the agency’s policy.
10. Document all relevant information
a) Document the feeding, including
amount, and kind of solution taken,
duration of feeding and assessment of
client.
b) Record the volume of the feeding and
water administered on the client’s
intake and output record.
11. Monitor the client for possible problems:
a) Carefully assess clients receiving tube
feeding for problems.
b) To prevent dehydration, give the client
supplemental water in addition to the
prescribe tube feeding as ordered.

Clinical Instructor Date

Signature over Printed Name
Rating:

Student Date
Signature over Printed Name Performed