questions after looking some things up

Yes, it helps to sit them upright at least a little bit, if they can. Imagine trying to poop laying flat on your back. Urine collection hat is for when they are testing the urine for something, like a UTI. If they just need to pee, they can go on the bedpan or in the toilet. Your nurse will tell you when they need a urine sample.

As far as I's & O's, I'm out of practice with that. I can tell you that intake is for any liquid they take in, including things that will liquify like Jell-o, etc. I hope someone comes along and can fill you in with more detail. Class was over 2 years ago for me and we don't do much more than chart how much was in the catheter bags at the end of our shift, and how much they drank when we have the meal cart. Dietary charts on those in the dining room. I usually report changes in color or smell to my nurse.

I came across the bed pan topic, and was wondering are you supposed to really sit the patient up when they are on the bed pan?

Yes.

Is the urine collection hat used only in certain cases?

Yes, if your patient is ambulatory and needs all of their urine output measured, the urine "hat" will probably be used in this case. If they are not, then they'll use the bedpan.

Can you give me some help with the input part of I'S AND O'S. They have a very small chart at my hospital so its not too helpful when trying to figure out the input. Should the input and output be similar? This sheet they gave me said normal output is 30ml an hour so during my 8 hr shift it should be around 240ml? It says a normal intake is about 1200 to 1500ml. Does this sound right? Thanks

According to an older edition of my crappy fundamentals book (all hail Potter & Perry ), Fluid gains and losses

The following are typical 24-hour values for an adult.

Intake 2,600 ml

1,300 ml oral fluids

1,000 ml in food

300 ml in oxidation of food

Output 2,400 to 2,700 ml

1,500 ml urine

200 ml in stool

400 to 600 ml through the skin

300 to 400 ml through respiration

But yes, we were taught in school that urinary output is about 30 mL/hr. So essentially 30*8=240..so I'm guessing that would be within normal limits.

you should. it allows the bladder/bowel to empty more effectively.

however, some pts aren't comfortable that way and you may have to adapt to how it works best for the pt.

if the pt is having trouble tolerating the large bedpan, see if you can find a fracture pan.

the hat pan is used in the commode or toilet to collect a specimen. not all specs can be collected this way, but most are. if you are asked to get a standard u/a or stool, you can use the hat.

the hat is also useful (as is a urinal) to empty foleys if there is no graduate available, because it is marked for measurement.

of course, it is used to straight out measure the amount of void.

can you give me some help with the input part of i's and o's. they have a very small chart at my hospital so its not too helpful when trying to figure out the input. should the input and output be similar?

yes, they should be similar. what goes in should go out.

just know that the nurse will be reviewing the i&os and will let you know what you need to do in regards to this (push fluids, hold fluids, etc.)

this sheet they gave me said normal output is 30ml an hour so during my 8 hr shift it should be around 240ml? it says a normal intake is about 1200 to 1500ml. does this sound right? thanks

correct.

cheers!

just one more thing,..if someone goes to the toilet on there own we cant measure that right? besides if we are getting a sample. i was just wondering because i dont want to mess the i's and o's up.

There should be a hat in the toilet in their room-- or you will need to get one-- if you must measure the pt's UO.

The pt needs to be told that: their urine needs to be measured, to urinate in the hat and to not dump the hat so that it can be measured by staff.

If the pt does not do this, for whatever reason, then report that. It's the best you can do.

You need to be really on top of this if your pt is on strict I&O.

I figured that for someone with a strict I&O, but we get them on everyone. I have just been charting the intake and putting bathroom privileges...if they dont have a foley,commode etc. There is 2 people to a room.