A Patient with Acute Diarrhea of 24 Hours' Duration Calls

A patient with acute diarrhea of 24 hours' duration calls the clinic to ask for directions for care.In talking with the patient,what should the nurse do?

A) Ask the patient to describe the character of the stools and any associated symptoms.
B) Advise the patient to use over-the-counter loperamide (Imodium) to slow gastrointestinal motility.
C) Inform the patient that laboratory testing of blood and stool specimens will be necessary.
D) Advise the patient to drink clear liquid fluids with electrolytes,such as Gatorade or Pedialyte.