Intake and Output
Input and output is calculated for a variety of patients in different settings from Intensive Care Units (ICU) to home. The process involves recording all the fluid that goes into the patient and the fluid that leaves the body. Remember in normal conditions the intake should equal output in 24 hours.
| Intake | Output |
| Liquids taken PO such as water, juice, milk, etc | Urine or liquid feces |
| Intravenous fluids (IV) such as D5W, D5RL | Blood |
| Feedings via nasograstic or PEG tubes | Drainage from wounds or suction |
When calculating intake and output, consider all fluids in and out of the body. Having a sheet of paper at the bedside to record intake of fluids is desirable. At the end of the shift, the paper is collected and a new sheet provided.
Practice Problems
A patient has recorded the following on a sheet of paper at the bedside:
Breakfast: eggs, toast, one cup of coffee (coffee cups at this hospital contains 6 ounces); small orange juice (4 ounces)
Lunch: sandwich, apple, glass of tea (glasses at this hospital contains 8 ounces)
Dinner: chicken, broccoli, rice, 2 glasses of tea
Between meals: 4 glasses of water
1000 mL of D5 W infusing IV at 30 mL/hour
Calculate the Intake for a 12 hour shift: Note you need to covert ounces to mLs
| Item | mLs |
| Coffee 6 oz | 180 mL |
| OJ 4 oz | 120 mL |
| Tea 3 X 8 oz | 720 mL |
| Water 4 X 4 oz | 480 mL |
| IV 30mL x 12 | 360 mL |
| Total Intake for 12 hrs | 1860 mL |
The patient recorded the following amounts voided on the sheet of paper: 400 cc at 7:00 am; 100cc at 10:00 am; 200cc at 12 noon; 150 cc at 2:00 pm; 400cc at 6:00 pm. The nurse emptied 300cc from a JP tube. The patient vomited 100cc at 4:00 pm What is the total output for the 12 hour shift?
|
Item |
mLs |
| Urine | 1250 |
| Drainage | 300 |
| Emesis | 100 |
|
Total Output |
1650 mLs |
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