Establishment of a gastrostomy feeding tube credentialing program for Dietitians and Registered Nurse’s in cancer care
Establishment of a gastrostomy feeding tube credentialing program for Dietitians and Registered Nurse’s in cancer care
Dietitians, nurses and stomal therapists from across Gippsland converged at Latrobe Regional Health for a level 1 Gastrostomy Feeding Tube education day. The knowledgeable and experienced senior dietitians from St Vincent’s Health Australia, Kate Brooks and Kim Lunardi, presented all things gastrostomy feeding tube and enteral nutrition. They were joined by Lisa Fraser (Avanos) and Jo D’Cruz (Nutricia), who shared her invaluable knowledge on gastrostomy tubes, enteral formulae, trouble shooting and home g-tube nursing services. The education day covered identifying type, size, brand, location and insertion information of gastrostomy tubes; considerations and troubleshooting for feeding using g-tubes; stoma care and management; and changing, removing and replacing gastrostomy tubes.
This gastrostomy tube credentialing program was established for Gippsland Dietitians and Registered Nurses in cancer care to address the importance of enteral nutrition. These tubes require specialised skills, historically beyond a dietitian’s scope of practice, often handled by other specialists. In 2016, the Victorian Department of Health funded advanced practice dietitian roles in gastrostomy tube management, leading to dietitian-led programs in Regional Victoria. Limited stomal therapy nurse availability caused care delays, risking complications and malnutrition. This credentialing program empowers Gippsland healthcare professionals to manage gastrostomy feeding tubes for cancer patients, ensuring timely care and improved outcomes.
The day was funded by a GRICS grant to the LRH dietitians department and feedback indicates it was a useful and beneficial day by all who attended.