The nurse is planning care for a preoperative patient.Which intervention is implemented to ensure safe nursing care?

A) Allowing the patient to have ice chips
B) Always keeping the patient NPO for 12 to 14 hours before
C) Allowing the patient to brush teeth and swallow water
D) Allowing the patient to take specifically ordered oral medications with small amounts of water

Patients may take oral medications with sips of water (30 mL)if they are specially ordered to be taken preoperatively (e.g. ,antiarrhythmic or seizure medications).All other oral medications are withheld.The nurse must later check postoperative orders to ensure that scheduled medications unrelated to surgery are not forgotten.In general,food and fluids are withheld for 4 to 8 hours before surgery requiring general anesthesia,to minimize the risk for aspiration.Patients may brush their teeth but should not swallow water.