Is NPO really NPO??

[LH366]

Hi guys, I have kind of a stupid question but I feel like I keep seeing different answers. I know NPO is nothing by mouth, but I feel like sometimes it is not followed like that. I see some people say it's okay to give ice chips and some not. For example, last night I had a patient that was npo except meds, but kept asking for water. I just double checked with the MD that patient needed to be NPO and the MD made it seem like I can give him some water here and there. If that's the case, then shouldn't that be specified? I gave him a very small amount of water around 12am but none after that in case he had a procedure in the AM. What are your cases with NPO? I'm just worried I gave this patient some water when I shouldn't have. For reference, I work in the ER, so I usually send my patients up before they complain about being NPO LOL.

[Guest1144461]

NP here. Generally we are okay with sips of water/ice chips but it should be specified. Rarely is there an ABSOLUTE NPO order but it happens in certain situations.

[turtlesRcool]

Usually we get the "NPO, no exceptions, no meds" order when a patient is an aspiration risk and we're waiting for speech to clear him/her or patient is an established risk (I.e. PEG tube feedings, etc.). SBO patients are obviously no exceptions, especially when they have an NG tube to suction.

We'll usually see "NPO except meds with sips of water" when a patient is NPO for a procedure or a diagnosis for something other than SBO. For example, pancreatitis patients can usually get their meds, even though we're not feeding them.