Nursing guide
Exam-focused context for this calculator. For clinical care, follow orders, policies, and local protocols.
The intake and output calculator totals fluid intake and output, computes net balance, and, when weight and time are entered, urine output in mL/kg/hr. It is a study tool — interpret balance with assessment findings, orders, and institutional policy.
Net balance = total intake − total output. Urine mL/kg/hr = urine ÷ weight (kg) ÷ hours.
A single balance value means little on its own. Connect the trend to dehydration, fluid overload, acute kidney injury, heart failure, sepsis, and post-op monitoring, and escalate per policy when the findings and the numbers disagree.
Intake 1,200 mL, output 900 mL over a shift.
Intake includes oral fluids, IV fluids, tube feeds, flushes, blood products, TPN, and medication volumes. Output includes urine, emesis, drains, stool or ostomy output, wound drainage, and NG output.
Subtract total output from total intake: net balance = total intake − total output. A positive number means intake exceeded output.
Divide urine output by the weight in kilograms and then by hours: urine mL/kg/hr = urine ÷ weight (kg) ÷ hours.
A single balance number means little on its own. Trends connect to dehydration, fluid overload, kidney injury, heart failure, sepsis, and post-op monitoring when interpreted with assessment findings.
No. It is educational only. Fluid balance interpretation must be combined with assessment findings, orders, and institutional policy.
These answers are for nursing education and exam practice only and do not provide patient-specific medical advice.
Intake (mL)
Output (mL)
Safety
Educational use only. Fluid balance interpretation must be combined with assessment findings, orders, and institutional policy.
Want more practice?
