echoing a widely held view. "In my opinion, that outweighs the NPO
after midnight for the convenience of the provider."
"NPO status is too rigid, especially for the frail and elderly," says a
Washington state RN. "Patients arrive so dehydrated, it makes IV
starts impossible."
When it comes to NPO, it all adds up to a need for more, or at least
better, guidance, says Teresa Smith, RN, director of Forsyth Plastic
Surgery in Winston-Salem, N.C. "There will always be variables, espe-
cially if you're dealing with pediatrics or patients not receiving a gen-
eral anesthetic," she says. "But it would be nice to come together and
develop some evidence-based guidelines surrounding NPO status."
OSM
E-mail jburger@outpatientsurgery.net.
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