Things to know about nasogastric tube nursing care plan

What is a Nasogastric feeding tube?

A remarkable tube which is used in transporting nutritious substances and medication to the abdomen via the nasal tract is known as Nasogastric feeding tube (NG tube). The nasogastric feeding tube is very convenient, as it can be utilized for all kinds of feedings and it can also be used for supplying the patient with ancillary calories.

The patient has to keep the tube safe and also has to take care of the epidermis around the nasal tract so that no infection arises where the NG tube is fitted.

The patient has to follow a set of instructions according to the nasogastric tube nursing care plan.

The patient’s doctor must choose the type of Nasogastric feeding tube as per the needs of the patient, nursing diagnosis for nasogastric tube suction. The patient may have aspiration, gastric decompression, and enteral treatment. There are different types of tubes namely Levin tube, Salem sump tube, and Moss tube.

1. Levin tube:  The Levin tube is made up of rubber or plastic having a single lumen, it has length 106.5 cm to 127cm, and the tip has a hole, with holes along the side too.
2. Salem sump tube: The Salem sump tube has a complementary lumen; it is made up of plastic and has a pigtail port, which helps in passing the pure atmospheric air into the stomach of the patient. The tube in the stomach hover or floats without any complications and doesn’t harm  or vandalize gastric mucosa. The port of size  121.9 cm is used as the main suction trench. The tube has holes at 45cm,  55cm, 65cm, and 75cm.
3. Moss tube: In a Moss tube (which is usually used at the time of surgery) the tip is radiopaque, and it has three lumens. The first placed and aerated in the upper opening of the stomach, which is used as a balloon aeration port. The second lumen is an oesophageal (food pipe) aspiration port. The third lumen is a duodenal (first part of the small intestine) feeding port.

There is a need for flushing the tube as it helps in releasing any medicine or food stuck to the inside of the tube, nursing care plan for nasogastric tube feeding. The tube must be flushed after every feeding, or as prescribed by the nurse.

1. Hands should be washed properly with soap.
2. When feeding the patient is over, warm water must be added to the feeding syringe and let it flow due to the action of gravity.
3. If the water gets stuck, the position of the tube must be changed, or a plunger is attached to the syringe, and the plunger part is leniently pushed.
4. The syringe should be removed
5. The NG cap should be closed

The skin around the nostrils must be cleaned with warm water and wiped with a clean washcloth every time after feeding. Removal of any discharge or hard layer in the nasal area should be done.

Mineral oil should be used while removing a dressing, to loosen it. Then the dressing should be gently removed.   After this, mineral oil should be washed.

If any irritation is noticed, the tube should be put in another nostril.

1. Cramp in abdominal
2. Swelling in abdominal
3. Vomiting and weakness
4. nausea
5. stomach upset
6. backflow  of food or medicine

The Ng tube will be inserted while the patient is lying down on the bed with his/her head in an upward direction, a nursing care plan for the nasogastric tube. The patient would have to move his/her body in different angles as asked by the doctor for the insertion of the NG tube through the nasal tract which will go through the food pipe and directly into the stomach. The doctor may ask his/her patient to drink water to let the NG tube slide in the stomach of the patient without any discomfort

After placing the NG tube the doctor needs to make sure that they won’t be any further complications related to the NG tube In the future which may make the patient uncomfortable, so several tests are done.

In order to keep the NG tube in its place, the doctor sticks it with a tape to the patient’s face. The benefits of nasogastric feeding tube treatment

It helps the patient to eat and drink if he/she is going through medical conditions like aspiration, gastric decompression, lavage, enteral treatment and oesophagus cancer in which it becomes difficult for the patient to consume food and provide the patient with Nutritious food and medications.