Paediatric Nursing (PAED)
NASOGASTRIC TUBE INSERTION IN A CHILD
Insertion of a flexible tube through the nose into the stomach for feeding, medication administration, or gastric decompression.
Purpose
- Establish gastric access
- Enable enteral feeding
- Allow medication administration
- Provide gastric decompression
Indications
- Inability to swallow
- Gastrointestinal obstruction
- Need for gastric lavage
- Post-operative care
Equipment
- Appropriate size NG tube
- Lubricant
- Syringe
- Stethoscope
- pH strips
- Tape
- Gloves
- Water-soluble lubricant
- Emesis basin
Preparation
- Select appropriate tube size
- Measure insertion length
- Prepare securing materials
- Position suction nearby
Procedure steps
- Verify order and explain procedure
- Perform hand hygiene and don gloves
- Measure tube length (nose to earlobe to xiphoid)
- Lubricate tube tip
- Position child appropriately
- Insert tube through nostril
- Advance gently while child swallows
- Verify placement
- Secure tube
- Document procedure
Precautions
- Stop if resistance met
- Never force tube
- Verify placement before use
- Monitor for respiratory distress
Aftercare
- Monitor placement regularly
- Provide nasal care
- Assess skin integrity
- Flush tube as needed
Nursing considerations
- Use age-appropriate explanation
- Consider sedation if needed
- Minimize trauma during insertion
Patient education
- Explain purpose of tube
- Teach signs of displacement
- Demonstrate care requirements
Documentation
- Tube size and type
- Insertion length
- Nostril used
- Placement verification
- Child's tolerance
References and further reading
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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