Question

Admission orders include "npo". The nurse knows that the patient

a. is allergic to penicillin.
b. may have nothing by mouth.
c. is experiencing shortness of breath.
d. has congestive heart failure.

Answer 1

When admission orders include 'npo', this means the patient may have nothing by mouth, commonly ordered before surgery or medical tests.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term 'npo' is a medical abbreviation that stands for 'nil per os', which is Latin for 'nothing by mouth'. In the context of the question, if a nurse sees that admission orders include 'npo', it means that the patient should not take anything by mouth. The correct answer is that the patient may have nothing by mouth. This is typically ordered to ensure that the patient's stomach and intestines are empty, such as before surgery or certain medical tests, to prevent aspiration, or when the patient is unable to handle oral intake due to certain medical conditions.