What Does NPO Mean in Medical Terms?

NPO stands for nil per os. Nothing to eat or drink by mouth.

Where you will see NPO

You will most often see NPO in nursing notes, care plans and handovers, medication orders and prescriptions, operation notes and surgical ward charts.

Example

A medication order might be written with “NPO” as shorthand for nil per os.

Related abbreviations

• 1:1 — one-to-one observation
• 2g Na diet — two-gram sodium diet
• 3% saline — three percent saline (hypertonic)
• 4-point restraints — four-point restraints
• 5-FU — fluorouracil
• 6-MP — mercaptopurine
• 6-TG — thioguanine
• 7+3 — seven plus three induction

Browse the full Medical Abbreviations guide — 5,715 entries, searchable A–Z and by specialty.