Administering Medications Enterally

Topic 8 – Enteral medication

Introduction Given as a liquid form in most cases via an

IGT or gastrostomy or jejunostomy . Check with pharmacist as many meds come in liquid forms.

Oral forms can often be crushed an mixed in 30mls H2O form enteral administration. Do not crush enteric coated meds or split capsules, or S/L or buccal meds. Gelatinous meds can be dissolved in warm H2O

Equipment Required Catheter tip or other appropriate syringe pH strip Incremental med cup Medication order Water to flush tube Crusher Gloves Kidney dish

Procedure Always

Check order, find medication and check against order

Prepare the dose and check the medication order again

Before returning mediation check order for third time

Procedure con’t Prepare each medication separately in 15 – 20 mls

(less for fluid restricted pts) Wearing gloves and with the pt semi-fowlers

position as tolerated attach syringe to the end of the tube. Disconnect feeds or unclamp tube and aspirate gastric contents. Check on litmus paper and return aspirate to stomach or discard per policy of facility. Flush with 30mls water. (If large volumes of aspirate withhold meds and report.)

Procedure con’t Remove plunger and add meds to barrel.

Raise barrel and allow gravity drainage of contents to stomach. If required plunger may be reinserted and contents of syringe gently syringed in.

After all meds instilled flush tube with 30mls water and clamp or recommence feeds as indicated.

Consider these things … Flush Flush Flush to prevent tube blockage Use clean mortar and pestle for crushing to

prevent contamination or administration of unordered meds