Tube Talk
Be A.W.A.R.E. Campaign Promotes Safety
The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) has launched a new campaign to promote safety with tube feeding. Directed at clinicians, the 2010 Be A.W.A.R.E. Campaign features a poster focused on the proper delivery of medication through enteral feeding tubes.
Last year A.S.P.E.N. ran a similar campaign, Be A.L.E.R.T., focused on educating nurses to help prevent enteral misconnections and improve enteral nutrition safety. Tubing misconnections can be extremely dangerous, as when enteral formula is administered through an IV line.
Download the Be A.L.E.R.T. and Be A.W.A.R.E. posters from www.nutritioncare.org (select “For Patients and Caregivers,” then “Patient Safety Information” near the bottom of the page), or call (800) 776-OLEY to request a copy. They can be useful at home or in hospital. More information about enteral misconnections and other enteral topics is also available on A.S.P.E.N.’s “Patient Safety Information” page.