Nutrition group launches campaign to improve enteral nutrition

Patient Safety Monitor Alert

February 10, 2010

The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) has launched a campaign, sponsored by Nestle Healthcare Nutrition, called "Be AWARE" to educate medical professionals of the simple steps they need to take to safely deliver medications through an enteral feeding tube. This initiative is part of the group's effort to translate the Enteral Nutrition Practice Recommendations to bedside caregivers.

Some of the suggested actions include 

 

  • Ceasing the administration of medication directly into an enteral feeding formula
  • Administering each medication separately
  • Flushing the tube before and after each medication is administered
  • Diluting solid or liquid medication as appropriate
  • Administering medication using a clean oral or enteral syringe

    To find more about this campaign, click here.