A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECT OF NASOGASTRIC TUBE FEEDING EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS ON CRITICAL CARE NURSES' KNOWLEDGE AND PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED HOSPITAL OF KANPUR, UTTAR PRADESH

Abstract

Critically ill patients have complex nutritional needs to meet the metabolic response to critical illness. The nutritional support for critically ill patients is an important determinant of their survival and recovery. Critical care nurses are the primary ones responsible for feeding the patients in intensive care units. Therefore, their knowledge and performance are important for providing adequate nutritional support for their patients and prevent malnutrition complications.

Nasogastric tube feeding is an essential way of delivering enteral nutrition when the oral route is insufficient or unsafe. Malnutrition is recognised as a reversible factor for sarcopenia and frailty. It is therefore crucial that malnutrition is treated in older inpatients who have dysphagia and require enteral nutrition. Despite five National Patient Safety Alerts since 2005, “Never Events” related to nasogastric feeding persist. In addition to placement errors, current practice often leads to delays in feeding, which subsequently result in worse patient outcomes. It is crucial that tube placement is confirmed accurately and in a timely way. Medical advancements in this area have been slow to find a solution which meets this need. In this paper, we provide an updated review on the current use of feeding nasogastric tubes in the older population, the issues associated with confirming correct placement, and innovative solutions for improving safety and outcomes in older patients.