Final answer:
The patient should stay hydrated, follow a specific diet, and provide a 24-hour urine sample.
Step-by-step explanation:
Preliminary preparations for a plain film x-ray of the kidney, ureter, and bladder include:
- Ensuring the patient is properly hydrated by drinking enough water to make 2 to 2.5 liters of urine per day
- Following a low protein, nitrogen, sodium, and oxalate-rich diet, while maintaining an adequate intake of dietary calcium
- Collecting a 24-hour urine sample to measure total daily urinary volume and levels of magnesium, sodium, uric acid, calcium, citrate, oxalate, and phosphate