What it means
In nursing, "fluids" usually means water taken in or given (by mouth, IV or tube) or body water itself. About 60% of an adult's body weight is water. Body fluid is split between the inside of cells and the outside (the blood plasma and the fluid between cells). Fluid balance depends on what goes in and what comes out through urine, stool, sweat and breath.
For the nurse
Daily weight is the best way to track fluid gain or loss: 1 kg (2.2 lb) is about 1 liter. A fluid restriction means measuring and limiting all liquids, including ice chips, soups and gelatin.
At a glance
| Spanish | líquido |
|---|---|
| Also written | fluids |
Related terms
edema
Swelling caused by extra fluid trapped in the body's tissues.
dehydration
A state in which the body has lost more water than it has taken in.
intake and output
The measured record of all fluids a client takes in and all fluids that leave the body over a set time.
fluid volume
The amount of fluid in the body, or in one of its spaces such as the blood vessels.