Fundamentals of Nursing Q 412
The best way of determining whether a patient has learned to instill ear medication properly is for the nurse to:
A. Ask the patient if he/she has used ear drops before.
B. Have the patient repeat the nurse’s instructions using her own words.
C. Demonstrate the procedure to the patient and encourage to ask questions.
D. Ask the patient to demonstrate the procedure.
Correct Answer: D. Ask the patient to demonstrate the procedure
Return demonstration provides the most certain evidence for evaluating the effectiveness of patient teaching. No matter what kind of ear drops you use or why you use them, it’s important to administer them correctly. Using ear drops properly allows the medication to enter your ear canal and treat your ear problem.
Option A: Merely asking the patient does not guarantee that he knows the correct way of instilling the ear drops. Position the head so that the ear faces upward. If you’re giving the drops to yourself, it may be easiest to sit or stand upright and tilt your head to the side. If you’re giving the drops to someone else, it may be easiest if the person tilts their head or lies down on their side.
Option B: It is better to repeat actions than only repeating words. or adults, gently pull the upper ear up and back. For children, gently pull the lower ear down and back. Squeeze the correct number of drops into the ear. Your doctor’s instructions or the bottle’s label will tell you how many drops to use.
Option C: After demonstrating to the patient, allow him to demonstrate the procedure too. You should also know how long you can use the ear drops safely after opening the bottle. For prescription ear drops, ask your pharmacist or doctor about the expiration date. For over-the-counter drops, check the expiration date on the label. If the drops have expired, throw them away. Don’t use expired ear drops.