Final answer:
The nurse should advise the client to increase fluid intake after an upper gastrointestinal series with barium contrast. Hydration will help in eliminating the barium and prevent constipation, which is a more common side effect than diarrhea.
Step-by-step explanation:
After an upper gastrointestinal series with barium contrast, the correct discharge instruction to provide to a client is to: a. Increase fluid intake.
Barium, a contrast medium used in gastrointestinal (GI) tract radiography, can cause constipation and compaction in some patients. Increasing fluid intake is essential to help move the barium through the GI tract and support its elimination. Indeed, hydration is a key factor in overall digestive health and recovery after such procedures.
There is no need to take antidiarrheal medication as diarrhea is not typically a concern after an upper GI series with barium unless overused during the procedure. Instead, patients should expect stools that are white or light in color due to the presence of barium. It's temporary and should return to the normal color once the barium is fully passed. As for the diet, it is usually recommended to return to a normal, balanced diet unless otherwise specified by the healthcare provider. A low-fiber diet is not necessary and may actually impede the passage of barium.