What it means
In nursing, intake usually means fluid intake: everything liquid that enters the body, by mouth, IV, tube feeding or irrigation. Foods that are liquid at room temperature, such as ice cream and gelatin, count as fluid. Dietary intake means the food and nutrients eaten. Intake is compared with output (urine, vomit, drainage, stool) to judge fluid balance.
For the nurse
Measure intake accurately when ordered, in milliliters, and add it up at the end of each shift. Ice chips count as about half their volume in water.
At a glance
| Spanish | ingesta |
|---|---|
| Also written | intakes |
Related terms
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
A liquid; in the body, the water and what is dissolved in it, inside and outside the cells.
fluid volume
The amount of fluid in the body, or in one of its spaces such as the blood vessels.