A client with a colostomy is experiencing mild diarrhea. Which instruction should the nurse give the client?

  • drink two 8-oz glasses of water
  • eat two bananas
  • eat five prunes
  • eat a salad with vinaigrette dressing
Number 2 is correct.
Bananas help to bind the stool thereby reducing diarrhea. Drinking additional fluids should be encouraged but will not reduce the diarrhea. Prunes promote peristalsis thereby increasing diarrhea. A salad has fiber that will increase diarrhea.