Survey of nurses' knowledge and practice regarding medication administration using enteral tubes

Area of Science:

• Clinical Pharmacy
• Nursing Practice
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Enteral tube blockages are a frequent issue, often necessitating tube replacement.
• Medications are frequently implicated as a cause of enteral tube obstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the variability in how healthcare professionals modify medications for administration through enteral feeding tubes.
• To provide support for practitioners involved in this critical aspect of patient care.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among 73 registered nurses regarding their practices for administering medications via enteral feeding tubes.
• The study employed a questionnaire distributed across various hospital wards, adhering to the SQUIRE 2.0 guidelines.

Main Results:

• Significant practice variations were observed, with 26% of nurses never checking drug modifications and 61% checking only for new drugs.
• Sixty percent of participants reported experiencing blocked tubes, and 52% reported tube removal due to blockages.
• Lactulose and omeprazole were identified as the most problematic medications for administration via enteral tubes.

Conclusions:

• Substantial variation in nursing practices for medication administration via enteral tubes exists, potentially leading to tube blockages and excessive fluid administration.
• Barriers include time constraints, medication modification difficulties, drug interactions, and knowledge gaps.
• Recommendations include enhanced training, specialized devices, clear guidelines, and a multidisciplinary approach to optimize medication administration and prevent complications.