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ADMINISTERING MEDICATIONS VIA GASTRIC TUBE Definition: Purpose: Assessment:

Equipment: Irrigation set (60-mL syringe and irrigation container) edications (crus!ed or in "iquid form) #ater (gastrostomy tu$es) or steri"e %ater or sa"ine (nasogastric tu$es)& according to faci"ity po"icy Procedure 1+ ,!ec- t!e medication card against t!e doctor.s order+ ,!ec- t!e patient.s !istory for a""ergies+ *+ /no% t!e actions& specia" nursing considerations& purpose of administration& and ad0erse effects of t!e medication+ )+ Perform !and !ygiene and put on PPE& if indicated+ (+ Prepare medications for one patient at a time+ '+ 1et t!e medication from t!e patient.s medication storage and compare t!e "a$e" %it! t!e drug name in t!e medication card+ ,!ec- e2piration date+ 6+ Prepare t!e medication+ Pills 3sing a pi"" crus!er& crus! eac! pi"" one at a Rationale ' ( ) * 1

Liquid #!en pouring "iquid medications in a mu"ti-dose $ott"e& !o"d t!e $ott"e %it! t!e "a$e" against t!e pa"m+ 3se t!e appropriate measuring de0ice %!en pouring "iquids& and read t!e amount of medication at t!e $ottom of t!e meniscus at eye "e0e"+ #ipe t!e "ip of t!e $ott"e %it! a paper to%e"+ 4+ Approac! t!e patient.s room and -eep t!e medications in sig!t at a"" times+

time+ Disso"0e t!e po%der %it! %ater or ot!er recommended "iquid in a medication cup+ /eep t!e pac-age "a$e" %it! t!e medication cup+

5+ Identify t!e patient $y as-ing !im to state !is name and $y c!ec-ing t!e identification %rist$and+ E2p"ain %!at you are going to do and reason for doing it+ 6+ Assist patient to 7ig! 8o%"er.s position& un"ess contraindicated+ 10+ #as!9saniti:e !ands+ Put on g"o0es+ 11+ If patient is recei0ing continuous tu$e feedings& pause t!e tu$e feeding pump+ 1*+ Pour t!e %ater into t!e irrigation container+ 8o"d t!e gastric tu$e o0er on itse"f and pinc! %it! fingers+ A"ternate"y& open port on gastric tu$e de"egated to

medication administration+ Disconnect tu$ing for feeding from gastric tu$e and cap+ 1)+ Insert tip of t!e 60-mL syringe into tu$e+ Aspirate gent"y to c!ec- residua" feeding to determine p"acement of t!e tu$e+ 1(+ ;ote t!e amount of any residua"+ <ep"ace residua" $acto t!e stomac! 1'+ 8o"d t!e gastric tu$e and remo0e t!e syringe+ <emo0e t!e p"unger of t!e syringe and reinsert t!e syringe in t!e gastric tu$e+ Pour )0 mL of %ater into t!e syringe+ 3nc"amp t!e tu$e and a""o% t!e %ater to enter t!e stomac! $y gra0ity+ 16+ Administer t!e first dose of medication $y pouring into t!e syringe+ 8o""o% %it! a ' to 10 mL %ater f"us! $et%een medication doses+ 8o""o% t!e "ast dose of medication %it! )0 to 60 mL of %ater f"us!+ 14+ ,"amp t!e tu$e& remo0e t!e syringe and rep"ace t!e feeding tu$ing and restart tu$e feeding if appropriate for medications administered+ 15+ <emo0e g"o0es and additiona" PPE& if used+ Perform !and !ygiene+ 16+ Assist patient to a comforta$"e position+ If recei0ing a tu$e feeding& t!e !ead of t!e $ed must remain e"e0ated at "east )0 degrees+ *0+ Document t!e time and sign at t!e medication s!eet of t!e patient.s c!art immediate"y after t!e medication administration+

*1+ E0a"uate t!e patient.s response to medication %it!in t!e appropriate time frame+