Enteral Tube Administration Policy (Adults) Version 3 Name of responsible (ratifying) committee Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee Date ratified 30 October 2015 Document Manager (job title) Clinical Nutrition Nurse Specialist Date issued 16 November 2015 Review date 31 August 2018 Electronic location Clinical Policies Related Procedural Documents Policy for the insertion and maintenance of fine bore feeding tubes in adults Key Words (to aid with searching) Enteral Administration, Adult, Policy Version Tracking Version Date Ratified Brief Summary of Changes Author 3 30/10/15 Minor changes to ancillary items used J Pratt 2 27/10/11 S Rogers CONTENTS
For use on an individual patient during a single procedure and then discarded. It is not intended to be reprocessed and used again. SINGLE-PATIENT USE May be used for more than one episode of use on one patient only. The devise may undergo some form of processing between each use. HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. A registered or trained competent member of staff including doctors, nurses and midwives. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Clinical managers are responsible for ensuring the implementation of this Policy and associated Guideline and monitoring compliance. Clinical Educators/ Practice Development Nurses to disseminate best practice as per Policy. CNNS team to have a high ward profile to help embed the policy into practice. PROCESS Clinical Practice Guidelines ACTION RATIONALE Prior to setting up feed wash hands with soap and water and apply non-sterile gloves. Ensure drip-stands and pumps are clean and in working order. If Naso-gastric tube is in situ check position of tube as per PHT Policy for Insertion and Maintenance of fine bore feeding tubes in Adults. Administration sets, water bags and feed bags must be changed every 24hours using a non-touch technique (Appendix 1A) Ready to hang sterile feed should have a maximum hang time of 24hours. Administration sets, water bags and feed bags must be labelled with the date and time that they were set up. If the feed administration set is disconnected from the patient the distal end must be capped off and the feeding tube flushed with drinking tap water using a non-touch technique. Only adaptors designed specifically for enteral use should be used. (Appendix 10) Research shows that poor hand hygiene contributes to microbial contamination. 1,3,6,7. To reduce the risk of contamination and maintain patient safety. 8 To ensure safe administration and maintain patient safety.4 To maintain a closed system to reduce the risk of contamination. 1,3,6,8,9,11 To enable staff to change the sets at the appropriate time. 3,6,7,9 To maintain a closed system and safely deliver feed/water. 1, To maintain tube patency Enteral adaptors will only be compatible with enteral devices therefore reducing the risk of wrong route administration. 4.
Administration sets are labelled and changed every 24 hours Jo Pratt spot checks observation audit 2 years Policy audit report to: Nutrition Support Team NMAC Staff using enteral feeding pumps have received training Jo Pratt Spot checks Observation audit Data collection 2 years Policy audit report to: Nutrition Support Team NMAC Enteral syringes are used once and discarded Ready to hang feed is not used for more than 24 hours Enteral feeds are set up using a technique Jo Pratt Jo Pratt Jo Pratt Spot check Observation audit Spot check Observation audit Spot check Observation audit 2 years 2 years 2 years Policy audit report to: Nutrition Support Team NMAC As above As above This document will be monitored to ensure it is effective and to assurance compliance. APPENDIX 1A FEED/WATER ADMINISTRATION VIA THE APPLIX PUMP – GRAVITY PRIMING METHOD EQUIPMENT:- Bag of feed or Hyrdrobag Administration set Applix Smart Pump and Dripstand 50ml Enteral syringe and glass of drinking tap water Non-sterile gloves
Equality Impact Screening Tool To be completed and attached to any procedural document when submitted to the appropriate committee for consideration and approval for service and policy changes/amendments. Stage 1 - Screening Title of Procedural Document: Enteral Tube Administration Policy (Adults) Date of assessment 14.7.15 Responsible Department Nutrition Nurses Name of person completing assessment Jo Pratt Job Title CNNS Does the policy/function affect one group less or more favourably than another on the basis of : Yes/No Comments Age NO Disability Learning disability; physical disability; sensory impairment and/or mental health problems e.g. dementia NO Ethnic Origin (including gypsies and travellers) NO Gender reassignment NO Pregnancy or Maternity NO Race NO Sex NO Religion and Belief NO Sexual Orientation NO If the answer to all of the above questions is NO, the EIA is complete. If YES, a full impact assessment is required: go on to stage 2, page 2 More Information can be found be following the link below Stage 2 – Full Impact Assessment