When are intake and output measurements totaled?

Intake and output measurements are totaled at the end of the shift to give a comprehensive overview of a patient's fluid balance over the entire shift. This practice is important because it allows healthcare providers to assess how much fluid has been consumed and eliminated, which is crucial for monitoring a patient's hydration status, kidney function, and overall health.

Measuring at the end of the shift ensures accurate documentation and helps in making timely medical decisions based on the patient's condition. Accurate totals provide better insight into trends in a patient's health and can indicate potential issues that may require intervention. While other timing options could provide some data, they would not give the complete picture that shift totals do.