4.2 Activity and Nutrition Orders
Activity and nutrition orders are often seen in a hospital setting and even in some clinics. Activity orders describe what a patient can do to mobilize within the hospital, and nutrition orders focus on what, or whether or not, a patient can eat or drink. Certain units, such as those that perform surgery, often make changes to patients’ nutrition and activity orders. If a patient is waiting for surgery or has just had surgery, their ability to eat or mobilize will be affected. The most common activity and nutrition orders are shown below, and examples of their use are provided.
Activity Orders
Table 4.1. Activity Orders
| ABBREVIATION | MEANING |
| AAT | activity as tolerated |
| ad lib | freely as desired |
| ADL | activities of daily living |
| BR | bedrest |
| BRP | bathroom privileges |
| PWB | partial weight-bearing |
Key Concept
Although some of the abbreviations and their meanings above are clear, others are more complicated. For example, activities of daily living (ADL) are anything we complete on a daily basis and include tasks such as brushing teeth, showering, changing clothes, and brushing one’s hair. Freely as desired (Ad lib) means that the patient can get up and out of bed whenever they so choose, and activity as tolerated (AAT) means that the patient can mobilize whenever they feel comfortable and stop when the activity becomes painful or uncomfortable.
Examples of activity orders:
- BR with BRP
- Pt to progress to AAT x 2 days post-op
Explanation of the activity orders:
- Bedrest with bathroom privileges (patient is to stay in bed except to use the bathroom).
- Patient to progress to activity as tolerated two days after surgery.
Nutrition Orders
Table 4.2. Nutrition Orders
| ABBREVIATION | MEANING |
| CDA | Canadian Diabetes Association |
| Cl. flds | clear fluids |
| DAT | diet as tolerated |
| FDA | Food and Drug Administration |
| H2O | water |
| NPO | nothing by mouth |
| WDW | when drinking well |
Key Concepts
Often abbreviations in nutrition orders are used progressively. For example, if a patient has had surgery, they may be NPO (nothing by mouth) immediately following surgery, then progress to Cl. flds (clear fluids). Afterwards, they may be assessed and ordered WDW (when drinking well), which means they are tolerating fluids, and progress to DAT (diet as tolerated). At that point, they can eat and drink as much as they can tolerate without becoming uncomfortable or experiencing nausea.
Examples of nutrition orders:
- For possible surgery in am, NPO after midnight
- Cl. flds today then progress to DAT WDW
Explanation of the nutrition orders:
- For possible surgery in morning, nothing by mouth after midnight.
- Clear fluids today, then progress to diet as tolerated when drinking well.
Exercise
Attribution
Unless otherwise indicated, material on this page has been adapted from the following resource:
Carter, K., & Rutherford, M. (2020). Building a medical terminology foundation. eCampusOntario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/medicalterminology/ licensed under CC BY 4.0
