A Nursing Survey to Determine the Characteristics of Medication Administration through Enteral Feeding Catheters

A statewide survey was designed to develop a better understanding of the current practices and problems encountered with medication administration through enteral feeding catheters (EFCs). The sample of 223 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses estimated that a median of 10% of patients received medications through an EFC. EFC obstruction was estimated to have occurred a median of 1.5 times per week, with 50% of obstructions estimated to be due to medication administration. Nine of 14 specific medications reported as "most frequently contributing to" feeding catheter obstruction available in liquid form, yet tablets were crushed and given. When nurses perceived the pharmacy department as helping them insure that liquid dosage form was used, there was greater use of liquid forms, less use of crushed forms, and less medication-associated catheter obstruction. In this sample, the majority of nurses did not follow consistently the few recommendations available.