American Society of Radiologic Technologist (ASRT) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the ASRT Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

After a patient has a barium enema, what should they be advised?

To drink plenty of fluids to keep the barium moving
To receive preliminary results from the technologist
To resume the prep instructions for 1 more day
That bed rest for the remainder of the day is recommended

The correct answer is: To drink plenty of fluids to keep the barium moving

After undergoing a barium enema, advising the patient to drink plenty of fluids is essential. This guidance is based on the fact that barium, which is a contrast material used in imaging studies of the gastrointestinal tract, can lead to constipation if not adequately expelled from the body. Drinking fluids helps to soften the stool and promote bowel movements, which is crucial for ensuring that the barium does not linger in the colon and cause discomfort or complications. The other options do not address the immediate post-procedural care that patients need. Preliminary results from the technologist are usually not provided immediately, as they would be interpreted by a radiologist or physician following the imaging procedure. Resuming the preparatory instructions for an additional day is unnecessary and could be confusing for the patient. Additionally, while rest may be advised in some cases, it is not a blanket recommendation for all patients, especially if their recovery does not indicate any need for prolonged bed rest following the procedure. Thus, emphasizing fluid intake stands out as the most appropriate advice for post-barium enema care.