An emergency department patient had an ng tube placed.The patient was then admitted to the hospital.The ed nurse used the anti-reflux valve as a stopper in the tube during transport.When the patient arrived in the inpatient area, the nurse was unable to remove the anti-reflux valve from the ng tube in order to connect it to intermittent suction per provider orders.The tube had to be cut in order to remove the valve.We are suggesting an engineering change may be helpful in order for there to be a way to have a safe stopper in the tube itself instead of using the valve - or possibly modification of the valve so it can safety be used as a stopper for during patient transport and/or when not attached to suction.
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