When discharging a client, the nurse is expected to offer discharge instruction that prevents gastroesophageal reflux in a client with a hiatal hernia.
Lying down after the meal is likely to cause GERD in a client with a history of hiatal hernia; therefore, such a client should not lie down immediately after a meal.
Taking antacid with a meal and limiting fluid intake with meals is wrong, these will not prevent the chances of GERD in this client.
A discharge nurse is responsible for relaying information to the patient and the patient’s family about what practices and things they need to do once they leave the hospital. This may include tips and things they need to do and not do. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is often called GERD for short. This is when the stomach pushes food or its contents and reverses it up to the esophagus.
There are some symptoms that the patient may experience heartburn and chest pain as a result. Some people experience acid reflux or GERD as a result of being pregnant. Some of the tips the discharge nurse may tell someone with GERD is to take certain medications, lose weight, avoid coffee and alcoholic beverages and stop smoking.
To prevent reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus, the nurse should advise the client to avoid foods and beverages that increase stomach acid, such as coffee and alcohol.