What is 'Free water's effect?

Published

I am working in PICU.

Sometimes, we provide to child 'free water' after enteral feeding via L-tube.

In case of, a patient nursed by me is provied free water because of hydration.

His Urine output was poor.

I dont know free water's mecanism and another effect.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Well, what is the effect when YOU drink your daily 2-3 liters of free water? ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care.

In my ICU most of our patients getting tube feeds also get an hourly free water flush (FWF). If the patient is in renal failure or fluid restricted due to CHF they don't get the FWF.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am working in PICU.

Sometimes, we provide to child 'free water' after enteral feeding via L-tube.

In case of, a patient nursed by me is provied free water because of hydration.

His Urine output was poor.

I dont know free water's mecanism and another effect.

In that scenario, "free water" is the extra amount of water required to sustain life that is not part of the enteral feeding solution. We have basic nutritional requirements and we have basic fluid requirements, to sustain life. Speaking simply, enteral feeding is nutrition + fluids to make a solution. But a lot of times, the amount of liquid used to make the solution doesn't cover the entire amount of fluids needed to sustain life. Therefore, extra "free water" is given to make up that difference. Like this:

Water that is part of the enteral solution (sometimes called "feed water") + "Free water" = total fluid required/24 hrs, to sustain life.

HTH

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

The amount of water in the formula isn't sufficient to meet the child's hydration needs, hence they need more "free water" in addition to the formula.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Are you a nurse?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

You know, Nutrition usually writes pretty detailed notes about how much water is provided by the formula for tube fed kids and why they need that extra free water, at least in my hospital. Had you bothered to look at any of these notes, OP?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

At my facility we have standard orders for normal saline flushes unless the patients sodium is high and then they get sterile water flushes...this is for an adult population though...in a hospital...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Anytime a person has a feeding tube we flush it every four hours. Now, if we are giving free water which is usually anything from 50mL to 200mL q4-8h, it's usually due to a sodium issue. All flushes are simply 30mL.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Why do I feel like someone is trying to get everyone to answer one of their homework questions?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You know, Nutrition usually writes pretty detailed notes about how much water is provided by the formula for tube fed kids and why they need that extra free water, at least in my hospital. Had you bothered to look at any of these notes, OP?

You're assuming there's something to bother with.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Why do I feel like someone is trying to get everyone to answer one of their homework questions?

Because that's what people usually assume here. Don't participate in the discussion if you feel used.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion