1. Accurate weight and height measurements are important because they are used to calculate medication doses, calorie needs, and fluid needs. 2. Weight changes may indicate conditions like poor diet, starvation, or neglect. 3. Loss of appetite can be caused by brain damage, emotional issues, pregnancy, gastrointestinal disorders, or eating disorders.

1. Weighing and MeasuringWeighing and Measuring
ByBy
Manuel Gallegos RN, BSNManuel Gallegos RN, BSN

2. When to weigh or measure?When to weigh or measure?
• admitted to a facility and
occasionally afterwards
Ex) Dialysis patients need to be
weighed before and after dialysis
to determine fluid loss

3. Accurate weights and measurementsAccurate weights and measurements
are Important!!!are Important!!!

4. Why is it important to have accurateWhy is it important to have accurate
measurements?measurements?
• Medication amount (dose) is prescribed based on
weight
• An inaccurate weight could result in an overdose or
too low dose of medications
• Height and weight are used to calculate a patient’s
calorie, protein, and fluid needs
• If data is inaccurate then these calculations will also
be inaccurate

5. What can changes in weight indicate?What can changes in weight indicate?
• 1. Poor diet
• 2. Increase in exercise or exertion
• 3. Dieting
• 4. Starvation
• 5. Neglect
• 6. Anxiety (type of Neurosis)
• 7. Aging
• 8. Meal preparation or shopping difficulty - such as in the
elderly
• 9. Denture difficulties
• 10. Loss of appetite - see the various causes of loss of
appetite
• 11. Athletic training

6. Neglect and StarvationNeglect and Starvation

7. What might cause loss of appetite?What might cause loss of appetite?
• 1. Brain damage such as stroke or
dementia
• 2. Emotional upset, nervousness,
loneliness, boredom, anxiety,
bereavement, and depression
• 3. Pregnancy
• 4. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
(GERD)
• 5. Peptic ulcer
• 6. HIV
• 7. Anorexia nervosa

8. Common Weights and ConversionCommon Weights and Conversion
• 16 ounces (oz) = one
pound (lb)
• 2.2 pounds (lbs) = 1
kilogram (kg)
• 100 lbs = 45.36 kg

9. How to convert from pounds toHow to convert from pounds to
kilograms and vice-versa?kilograms and vice-versa?
• A man weighs 228 pounds. How do we
convert to kilograms?
• Divide 228 by 2.2. Use a calculator. Answer?
• 103.6 kg
• A woman weighs 55 kg. How many pounds
does she weigh? Answer? 121 Lbs

10. Height MeasurementsHeight Measurements
• Usually measured in feet and inches
• 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters (cm)
• Ex) “I am five feet six” (5’ 6”)
• 12 x 5= 60 + 6 = 66 inches
• First convert the feet into inches and then multiply by
2.54.
• Ex) A patient is 5’ 3”. How may cm is she?
• 63 x 2.54= 160 cm

11. Fluid MeasurementsFluid Measurements
• May be necessary to measure the input and
output of a client
• Ex) How much did a pt. drink if he drank 2
cups of coffee? One cup is = to 240 ml
• 1cc=1ml One oz is = to 30cm
• Convert ounces to milliters? Multiply by 30
• Ex) A person drinks a 40oz. Bottle of Juice.
How many ml. is it?

12. Summary of Key PointsSummary of Key Points
• 1. Accurate measurements are important
because they are used to determine amount of
what ?????
• 2. Changes in weight may indicate p__o_r
___i __e__t, __t__r__a__t__o__, or
n__g__e__t.
• 3. What might cause a loss of appetite?
• 4. One kg = ____lbs
• 5. One inch = _____cm