Usually placed by a nurse, nasogastric tubes are found in a wide variety of clinical situations due to their versatility and ease of use for both diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of patients. In a similar way, the use of gastrostomy tubes for long term feeding and other treatments has become common and made the replacement of balloon gastrostomy tubes an increasingly routine nursing procedure.

Usually placed by a nurse, nasogastric tubes are found in a wide variety of clinical situations due to their versatility and ease of use for both diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of patients. In a similar way, the use of gastrostomy tubes for long term feeding and other treatments has become common and made the replacement of balloon gastrostomy tubes an increasingly routine nursing procedure.

Advances in treatment and technology have made enteral feeding tubes common in a wide range of healthcare settings. As a result, familiarity with enteral feeding tubes and their use and care is a useful skill for all healthcare providers. To begin this process, this course identifies the various feeding tubes and their components.

From acute care to long term care, enteral feeding tubes are found in a broad range of healthcare settings. Healthcare providers, from surgeons to nursing assistants, must be familiar with a wider variety of enteral feeding tubes than ever before. This second in a three-part series on enteral feeding tubes, focuses on administering formula and medication using the various types of tubes.

Advances in treatment and technology have made enteral feeding tubes common in a wide range of healthcare settings. As a result, familiarity with enteral feeding tubes, and their use and care is useful skill for all healthcare providers

Over 90% of hospital patients receive intravenous therapy, including medication, nutrition, electrolytes, and blood. These life-giving fluids are administered through an I.V. and can mean the difference between life and death for a patient.

Providing intravenous therapy for infants and children offers unique challenges and may have a different rationale for the IV therapy than with an adult.

During intravenous therapy, some patients can experience complications--either local, at the I.V. site, or systemic. Updated with a new look and feel, and the latest venipuncture practices, this program will focus on the identification of complications, their causes, and appropriate nursing interventions to take to support the patient and restore safe and effective therapy.

After intravenous therapy has been started, the patient, the venipuncture site, and the I.V. system itself require regular monitoring and care. This care is necessary for the prevention or early detection of complications associated with I.V. therapy.