NG TUBE FEEDING PROCEDURE

1. Review the physician’s order.

2. Perform hand hygiene/ hand washing.
3. Provide privacy.
4. Check patient’s identification band.
5. Explain the procedure to the patient. Explain that she will experience a feeling of fullness after
feeding.
6. Assist patient to fowler’s position.
7. Perform hand hygiene and put on clean gloves.
8. Drape a bath towel over the patient’s chest.
9. Check the tube position. Do a visual check to see that the tube is taped securely at the nose and
that there’s no coiling of tube in the mouth.
10. Check if tube is in the stomach by testing the pH value of stomach content. To do this, first, kink
the feeding tube and then remove the plug. Attach the syringe to NG tubing. Gently drawback
plunger to withdraw stomach content. Note the amount, color, and nature of content. Replug the
tubing.
11. Test the pH of withdrawn content. Squirt stomach content to pH indicator strip. Placevthe
indicator strip against the color chart to identify the pH value. Proceed feeding if pH indicator
strip gives a value from 0-5.5 or as advised by the attending physician.
12. Once placement is verified, draw up a 30 ml of irrigation fluid then flush the tube.
13. Detach the syringe and replace plug.
14. Prepare the formula feed. Check the expiry date written on the container. Use the correct amount
of powdered formula to water according to instructions. Mix until the powder is well-dissolved.
We may warm the formula feed to a bowl of warm water. Do not use microwave neither boil the
formula for it may destroy the nutrients.
15. Attach syringe to NG tubing. Pour feeding formula to syringe (30-60 ml at a time).
16. Adjust height of syringe so that the formula steadily flows through the patient.
17. Replace plug. Then drawback a 30 ml of irrigation fluid and flush the tube.
18. Plug the tubing.
19. Assist patient to a position of comfort.
20. Clean up the equipment used and keep them appropriately.
21. Remove gloves.
22. Perform hand hygiene.
23. Document all the procedures done in patient’s chart.