How to Place a Feeding Tube
- 1). Wash your hands for at least 30 seconds under warm water with an antibacterial soap. This is imperative to keeping the opportunity for infection from occurring. Assemble all of the equipment in the area where you will be introducing the feeding tube.
- 2). Have the patient to lay back with their arms above the head and insert the stylet into the tube so the end is near the end of the tube. Make sure that it does not come through the hole at the end of the tube or you will have to get another stylet and begin again.
- 3). Measure the tube from the nose to the ear and then down to the middle of the chest and mark the area with tape. This total amount will let the tube enter into the stomach. Dip the tube in the cup of water to lubricate it well and do not ever use gels or petroleum jelly, because this can cause clogging of the tube and could even enter the lungs.
- 4). Insert the end of the tube into the right nostril of the patient until you reach the point marked by tape. You can give the patient a few small drinks of water to help the tube go down. Once the tube is placed, tape it to the nostril and across the face to keep it from falling out.
- 5). Place the stethoscope over the stomach and insert five milliliters of air into the tube by using the syringe while listening through the stethoscope. If you hear a pop sound, the tube is in correctly. Remove the stylet from the tube by pulling the wire with one hand and holding the tube with the other.
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