Guidelines for EN Established
The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) has released “The Enteral Nutrition Practice Recommendations.” The document contains valuable evidence-based recommendations that you may want to share with your physician.
Two years ago an A.S.P.E.N. task force was formed to examine literature related to the ordering, preparation, delivery, and monitoring of enteral nutrition (EN), and to gather expert opinion based on current knowledge and best practices. These recommendations are the result.
Why Are They Important?
A.S.P.E.N. states: “The complexities of modern healthcare, compounded with decreased staff both at the bedside and at the nutrition support level, have led to the potential for an increase in risks related to EN. Complications can occur throughout the process of ordering, administering, and monitoring nutrition, compromising a patient’s safety. Serious harm—and even death—can result from improper EN.”
Adverse events include misconnections, feeding tube misplacement/displacements, metabolic abnormalities, tube complications, aspiration, formula contamination, and harmful drug/nutrient interactions. “In order for complications in EN to decrease, areas for possible human error, as well as administrative and organizational conditions which can lead to mistakes, have to be clearly identified,” said Kelly Tappenden, A.S.P.E.N. president.
Available to Consumers
“Enteral Nutrition Practice Recommendations” can be downloaded as a PDF or purchased (for $19.95) at www.nutritioncare.org/safety.