Ethan Rhodes
Weighing patients is a fundamental part of healthcare, with weight being used to inform aspects of care such as fluid-balance management and drug-dose calculations. There are a variety of scales used in hospitals to measure weight, including digital scales, chair scales, bed/stretcher scales, and built-in floor scales. Digital scales are commonly used in hospitals and can be equipped with BMI calculation functionality. In-bed scales are used to weigh bed-bound patients, while chair scales are used for patients with limited mobility. To ensure accuracy, it is important to record any clothing and footwear worn by the patient during measurement and to empty any drainage devices. Metric scales are preferred over imperial scales to reduce the risk of dosing errors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose of measuring weight | To calculate body mass index, determine drug doses, monitor health, calculate fluid balance, etc. |
| Weighing equipment | Digital scales, chair scales, bed/stretcher scales, in-built floor scales, pediatric scales, neonatal scales, bariatric scales, etc. |
| Weighing procedure | Reset scale to zero, ensure patient's clothing isn't touching any fixed part of the scale, ask patient to remain still, etc. |
| Units of measurement | Metric units (kg, g) are preferred over pounds to avoid errors. |
| Weighing challenges | Critically ill patients, patients with limited mobility, emergency admissions, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Metric-only scales
In-bed scales, for example, are used to weigh bed-bound patients. These scales allow patients to be weighed comfortably from a bed or stretcher, which is lowered to bed level. Hydraulic lift mechanisms ensure patient safety, and digital indicators subtract the weight of the patient's bedding for an accurate reading.
Pediatric scales are another type of scale used in hospitals. Some of these scales have a mechanism to subtract the weight of diapers or clothing to accurately measure the child's weight. Neonatal scales are a type of pediatric scale designed to weigh premature babies or infants who struggle to gain weight.
For patients in intensive care, weighing them can be challenging. However, there are scales usable for every type of bed in an ICU, and some hospital beds can directly weigh patients. These methods do not require the patient to be moved, ensuring their safety.
When measuring weight, it is important to record any clothing and footwear the patient is wearing. This facilitates comparisons when future measurements are taken. If repeat weights are required, the patient should be weighed at a similar time of day and in similar clothing. Any drainage devices should be emptied before taking a measurement to avoid a false reading.
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Weighing patients in ICU
Weighing patients in the ICU can be challenging for nurses due to variations in patients' levels of consciousness and physical conditions. Mobility is often reduced, and patients cannot be measured and weighed in a conventional way.
In some cases, nurses may ask the patient about a recent weight or check their hospital records. A visual assessment may also reveal signs of weight loss, such as loose-fitting rings. Relatives may also be able to provide information about the patient's weight.
There are several types of scales used in ICUs to weigh patients accurately and effectively:
- In-bed scales: These are used to weigh bed-bound patients comfortably in their beds. They feature hydraulic lift mechanisms and digital indicators that subtract the weight of the patient's bedding for accurate readings.
- Pediatric scales: These scales can subtract the weight of diapers or clothing to accurately measure a child's weight.
- Neonatal scales: These scales are designed specifically for weighing premature babies or infants with difficulty gaining weight.
- Wheelchair scales: These scales have ramps that allow patients to be weighed while seated in their wheelchairs.
- Bariatric scales: These scales are designed for severely overweight or obese patients, with a higher weight capacity and larger platform.
To ensure accuracy when weighing patients in the ICU:
- Ensure the patient is stable before taking measurements.
- Adjust the legs on scales to ensure they are level.
- Make sure the patient's feet are positioned correctly on the scales and that they are not supporting themselves with a walking aid or nearby furniture.
- Ask the patient to sit upright with their back against the chair and their feet off the floor, resting on the scale's footrests.
- Record any clothing and footwear the patient is wearing during the weighing, so future measurements can be compared accurately.
- Empty any drainage devices, such as urinary catheter bags, before taking a measurement to avoid false readings.
- Check that the weighing equipment is set to zero before taking the patient's weight.
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Recording clothing and footwear
Recording a patient's weight is a standard practice for all hospital admissions. Weight is a key measure for safe medication management and monitoring of patients. It is also used to inform other aspects of care, such as fluid-balance management and drug-dose calculations.
When weighing a patient, it is important to record any clothing and footwear they are wearing. This facilitates comparisons when future measurements are taken. If repeat weights are required, the patient should be weighed in similar clothing and at a similar time of day. This helps ensure consistency and accuracy in the measurements.
In general, it is recommended that patients remove heavy clothing and footwear before being weighed. In the community, lightweight indoor clothing can be worn, while patients in hospitals can be weighed in their nightwear. This helps to ensure that the weight of the clothing does not significantly impact the overall measurement.
For pediatric patients, some scales have a mechanism to subtract the weight of diapers or clothing, ensuring a more accurate measurement of the child's weight. In-bed scales are also available for bed-bound patients, which can subtract the weight of the patient's bedding.
Additionally, nurses should check that the patient's clothing is not touching any fixed part of the scales. This ensures that the clothing does not get caught when the patient sits or stands, which could affect the accuracy of the reading.
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Neonatal scales
The tare function is a common feature on neonatal scales. It allows the weight of a diaper or clothing to be subtracted from the infant's total weight, ensuring accuracy. Some scales also have a hold function that locks the weight measurement, even if the baby moves. Additionally, some models offer a memory function to store and recall previous weight measurements, which is beneficial for tracking weight gain and milk intake.
In hospitals, weight measurement is a fundamental aspect of patient care. It is crucial for nutrition screening, fluid-balance management, and drug-dose calculations. Ensuring accurate weight readings is important, and nurses follow specific procedures to achieve this. These procedures include considering the patient's clothing and footwear, emptying drainage devices, and ensuring the weighing equipment is set to zero before each use.
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Chair scales
In hospitals, weight measurement is a fundamental aspect of patient care, informing nutrition screening, fluid-balance management, and drug-dose calculations. For patients with limited mobility or physical disabilities, standing on a scale can be challenging. This is where chair scales come in.
These scales come in various types, including stationary chair scales and portable seat scales. The portable variety resembles transport chairs, making them convenient for patients who require a mobile solution. Stationary chair scales, on the other hand, offer a stable and reliable option for weight measurement.
In addition to chair scales, hospitals employ other types of scales, such as in-bed scales for bed-bound patients. These scales utilise hydraulic lift mechanisms to ensure patient safety and accurate readings by subtracting the weight of bedding. For paediatric patients, specialised scales can subtract the weight of diapers or clothing to provide precise weight measurements.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a variety of scales used in hospitals, including standing scales, chair scales, bed/stretchers with scales, and built-in floor scales. Some scales are designed for patients with limited mobility, such as wheelchair scales, while others are designed for patients who are severely overweight, such as bariatric scales. Pediatric scales are used to weigh children and neonatal scales are used for premature babies or infants with difficulty gaining weight.
Nurses ensure accuracy by recording any clothing and footwear worn by the patient during the weighing. Urinary catheter bags, stoma appliances, and other drainage devices should be emptied before taking a measurement. The patient should also be asked to remain as still as possible.
Recording an accurate body weight is fundamental to nutrition screening and can inform other aspects of care, such as fluid-balance management and drug-dose calculations.
Metric units (kilograms and grams) are recommended for weighing patients as they reduce the risk of dosing errors. Some scales have a switchable unit-of-measure feature, but hospitals can lock these scales to display metric-only values to ensure accuracy and compliance.
