Art & Science Previous Next

Nursing management of patients who are nil by mouth

Nicola Whiteing Lecturer in adult nursing, City University, London

Janet Hunter Lecturer in adult nursing, City University, London

This article examines how to manage patients who are nil by mouth (NBM) and maintain optimal nutritional status. Pre-operative fasting and other reasons why patients might be NBM, methods of administering nutritional support and nursing considerations, such as mouth care, urine output, intravenous therapy and skin assessment are also discussed. The article provides an insight into the psychological effects on patients who are NBM and emphasises the importance of patient education.

Nursing Standard. 22, 26, 40-45. doi: 10.7748/ns2008.03.22.26.40.c6426

Correspondence

nicola.whiteing.1@city.ac.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Keywords :

Enteral and parenteral nutrition - Fasting - Pre-operative fasting - Pre- and post-operative care