Which option correctly describes NPO in plain terms?

Which option correctly describes NPO in plain terms?

• A. Nothing by mouth
• B. Non Per Os (Not Per Oral)
• C. Non Per Os (Nutrition Only)
• D. Non per os (nothing by mouth)

Answer: (D)

NPO means not by mouth—the instruction is that a patient should not ingest anything orally. The best choice presents the exact Latin phrase "Non per os" and also gives the plain-English translation "nothing by mouth" in parentheses, so the meaning is clear in both medical terminology and everyday terms. This pairing avoids ambiguity you’d get from a plain-English-only option, and it correctly reflects the common medical phrasing used on orders. The other options either drop the Latin term, give an inaccurate translation, or imply something other than total abstention from oral intake (like "Nutrition Only"), which isn’t how NPO is used.

NPO means not by mouth—the instruction is that a patient should not ingest anything orally. The best choice presents the exact Latin phrase "Non per os" and also gives the plain-English translation "nothing by mouth" in parentheses, so the meaning is clear in both medical terminology and everyday terms. This pairing avoids ambiguity you’d get from a plain-English-only option, and it correctly reflects the common medical phrasing used on orders. The other options either drop the Latin term, give an inaccurate translation, or imply something other than total abstention from oral intake (like "Nutrition Only"), which isn’t how NPO is used.