n.p.o stands for?

• A. Nothing by nose
• B. Nothing by mouth
• C. Non-procedural order
• D. New patient orientation

Answer: (B)

Nil per os, abbreviated n.p.o., comes from Latin and means nothing by mouth. This order tells healthcare staff that the patient should not take any food or fluids orally, typically to prevent aspiration during anesthesia or before procedures. The other options don’t reflect a standard medical directive or term: nothing by nose isn’t a recognized instruction, non-procedural order isn’t a common medical directive, and new patient orientation is unrelated to patient fasting.