H20 post op

[DesiGRocks]

Hello,

When does a post op patent get water in general?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

When the surgeon writes the order.

[DesiGRocks]

Is it when bowel sounds return? Yet they may take a while and just seems like they'd need h20 right away

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

Is it when bowel sounds return? Yet they may take a while and just seems like they'd need h20 right away

That's what IV's are really good for.

[LobotRN, BSN, RN]

Most post-op pts who are admitted to the hospital have IV fluids running, so they are receiving hydration. Ambulatory Surgery Centers usually ensure a pt can void, eat a little and drink a little and keep it down, and have pain reasonably controlled. Then out the door they go. At the end of the day, it also depends on the type of surgery. Bowel resection, when ordered, a clear liquid diet initially including small amts of water. Total knee arthroplasty, I usually see regular diet right off the bat ordered.

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

Uh...when there's:

a) an order. And if a surgeon's involved, follow it exactly. I've seen nurses get their backsides chewed for giving sips of water when the order was "ice chips."

b) and most important --> they can control their airway

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

Ours have a regular diet ordered off the bat, but make sure they aren't nauseous or vomiting (obviously). We start with ice chips, then go to water sips, then ginger ale and saltines, then to soup and sandwich. You want to make sure they can keep stuff down and of course always obviously that they can protect that airway!

[maelstrom143]

W/our post ops they are usually NPO w/IVF infusing until fully alert and able to protect their airway. We start them w/clear liquids, progress to full liquids, soft diet, then regular/cardiac/ada. The diet is advanced as tolerated. IVF keep infusing until patient tolerating PO well. This is, of course, if the doc is following the usual protocol. Some doctors will order different than the protocol, but we still advance as tolerated.

I have had to pull back a diet from someone who was hungry but nauseated and vomiting anything they ate, all the while explaining that no, I was not being mean, I was ensuring their safety:uhoh3:

[loriangel14, RN]

It would likely depend on the operation but usually if they go to the floor from the PACU they can have ice chips and sips right away.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Is it when bowel sounds return? Yet they may take a while and just seems like they'd need h20 right away

Why would they "need h20 right away"?

[DutchRN09]

When I get the pt from PACU, unless they are throwing up

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Depends on the surgery. With bowel surgeries, typically they remain NPO or NPO with ice chips and then they are usually progressed to a clear liquid diet. If they tolerate it (no nausea/vomiting with eating) then typically their diet is "advanced as tolerated."

I had a patient who underwent a surgical procedure involving the sinus cavities an was back on a regular diet right after surgery.