How do you treat N/V/D?

imanedrn · Apr 19, 2008

Our Er docs vary on how to treat N/V/D after we have rehydrated and given antiemetics....OUr aftercare instructions vary from 'Eat what feels right' to 8 hours w/o liquids, 8 hours on clear liquids, 8 hours on full liquids, 8 hours on BRAT then advance as tolerated. What do you see?

I work in med/tele. When pt's come up from the ER with N/V/D, I see all variations also. The most common starts on NPO, to clear liquids, advancing slowly up to a regular diet.

I had one patient who was on clear liquids & the order was "advance as tolerated." The patient states she felt she could eat a regular diet, as her N/V had disappeared completely. I documented her statement and ordered a regular diet.

Other pts will stay NPO for several days w/ just an IV or maybe in addition to clear liquids.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2008

If there's no obstruction, it's usually clear liquids and advance as tolerated.

zenman · Apr 20, 2008

The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Dhaka, Bangladesh has been admitting around 400 patients a day with diarrhea. There is high temp the last few days and that contributes to poor health and hygiene. Who knows how many people the other hospitals are seeing.

In my school setting, we generally feel NVD is there for a reason and don't try to plug anyone up. I like to start off with Pepto-Bismol and go from there. If needed, I stick an IV in her at my office or at a teachers home. We can also do a stool check at a local physician.

In fact, I need to get a few tabs of Pepto-Bismol right now. Gotta go...

aeauooo · Apr 20, 2008

How I treat N/V/D?

I learned to jump backwards very fast.

zilla704 · Apr 21, 2008

How I treat N/V/D?
I learned to jump backwards very fast.

:yeah: You win!

towntalker · Apr 21, 2008

The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Dhaka, Bangladesh has been admitting around 400 patients a day with diarrhea. There is high temp the last few days and that contributes to poor health and hygiene. Who knows how many people the other hospitals are seeing.
In my school setting, we generally feel NVD is there for a reason and don't try to plug anyone up. I like to start off with Pepto-Bismol and go from there. If needed, I stick an IV in her at my office or at a teachers home. We can also do a stool check at a local physician.
In fact, I need to get a few tabs of Pepto-Bismol right now. Gotta go...

i know that d/n/v may be there for a reason just as a fever may be a good thing at the start but you can't allow these condition to go unchecked

if the fever goes over 102.0 [arbitrary number] you need to determine the cause and give a motrin/apap or if the d/n/v goes on for several days you will have a dehydrated patient

it may be there for a reason but when they present with sx you need to find out what is the cause

zenman · Apr 21, 2008

i know that d/n/v may be there for a reason just as a fever may be a good thing at the start but you can't allow these condition to go unchecked
if the fever goes over 102.0 [arbitrary number] you need to determine the cause and give a motrin/apap or if the d/n/v goes on for several days you will have a dehydrated patient
it may be there for a reason but when they present with sx you need to find out what is the cause

You don't let it go unchecked, but you don't slap high powered anti-diarrhea meds at the first hint of "loose motions" as they call it here. You could then become a "breeding factory" for something you'd rather not have inside you, lol.

Remember where I'm at. You might have multiple reasons for the diarrhea and never find out what any of them were. Last I heard there were 250 different kinds of diarrhea here. How's that for a specialist field...pretty crappy, I'd say.

Although I can start IVs, we first tend to give Oral Saline Solution (ORS) which was also invented here and which has saved many lives. If we keep people hydrated, most cases will be self-limiting.

towntalker · Apr 21, 2008

zenman, that sounds great, hydration can help a body heal itself or at least keep additional problems from overwhelming patient