What it means
A running record, usually per shift and per 24 hours, of every fluid that goes in (drinks, ice chips, tube feeding, IV fluids) and comes out (urine, vomit, drainage from tubes and wounds, liquid stool). Comparing the two shows whether the client is gaining or losing fluid. Amounts are measured in milliliters (mL).
For the nurse
Measuring and recording intake and output can be delegated to a UAPyou-ay-pee (said as letters)Unlicensed assistive personnel: trained workers without a nursing license, such as nursing assistants, who help with client care.Full entry , but the nurse looks at the totals and acts on them. An adult urine output under 30 mL per hour (or 0.5 mL/kg/hour) is reported. Ice chips count as about half their volume in water.
In a chart
"I&O for 12 hours: intake 1,850 mL, output 950 mL."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | I&O |
|---|---|
| Spanish | ingresos y egresos (balance de líquidos) |
| Also written | input and output, I & O, I&O |
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.
heart failure
A long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.