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Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

Become a Member
Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

Membership Benefits
ACS
Home Skills

Feeding Tube Home Skills Program

You are an important member of your surgical team. We want to help prepare you and your family for full participation and the best recovery. The ACS Feeding Tube Home Skills booklet was developed by members of your surgical team. This program will walk you through skills you will need to manage a feeding tube at home. You will also develop an understanding of your digestive system, the role of enteral feeding tubes, common types of feeding tubes and how they are inserted, problem solving, preparing for emergencies, home management, and other resources.

This standardized interactive program has been developed by the ACS in collaboration with the Wound Ostomy Continence Society, the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the American Pediatric Surgical Association, the American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association, the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, Society of Pediatric Nursing, the ACS Commission on Cancer, and a feeding tube patient advocate.

Feeding Tube Skills: Introduction and Welcome
Feeding Tube Skills: Introduction and Welcome
Feeding Tube Skills: What is an Enteral Feeding Tube?
Feeding Tube Skills: What is an Enteral Feeding Tube?
Feeding Tube Skills: Feeding Tube Supplies
Feeding Tube Skills: Feeding Tube Supplies
Feeding Tube Skills: Mouth and Skin Care
Feeding Tube Skills: Mouth and Skin Care
Feeding Tube Skills: Feeding Through an Enteral Tube
Feeding Tube Skills: Feeding Through an Enteral Tube
Feeding Tube Skills: Giving Medication
Feeding Tube Skills: Giving Medication
Feeding Tube Skills: Replacing the Gastrostomy Tube
Feeding Tube Skills: Replacing the Gastrostomy Tube
Feeding Tube Skills: Problem Solving and Emergencies
Feeding Tube Skills: Problem Solving and Emergencies
About Your Feeding Tube

What is an Enteral Feeding Tube?
This brochure covers the digestive system, who needs an enteral feeding tube, common types of feeding tubes and how they're inserted, and feeding tube supplies.

Problem Solving and Emergencies
This resource covers common feeding tube issues including:

  • Aspiration
  • G-Tube or J-Tube moving from original placement
  • G-Tube or J-Tube pulled out
  • Irritation of skin at the stoma site
  • Nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation
  • Granulation tissue due to friction, chafing, or dragging downwards
  • Clogged or leaking feeding tube
  • Buried Bumper Syndrome
  • Medical emergencies

Home Management and Other Resources
Resources for day-to-day tube management, including daily care, bathing & dressing, activity, school & work, mealtimes, vacations & traveling, emotions, and body image.

Skills to Manage Your Feeding Tube
ACS Patient Tools

Printable Discharge Plan Worksheet

Full Booklet

Check Your Knowledge

Online Course for Patients

Evaluation

Feeding Tube Home Skills Kit
Contains booklet, DVD with demonstration of each skill; feeding tube supplies (low-profile feeding device, gauze, syringe, and stoma model); feeding tube self-care checklist; and evaluation.

Surgical Cancer Patient Education

Organizations with Additional Resources
Program Credits

ACS Feeding Tubes Task Force

This program was developed and funded in part by a grand from Applied Medical Technology, Inc.

Order Feeding Tube Kit