Physiological Integrity Q 10
The nurse is caring for a 6-year-old client admitted with a diagnosis of conjunctivitis. Before administering eye drops, the nurse should recognize that it is essential to consider which of the following?
A. The eye should be cleansed with warm water, removing any exudate, before instilling the eyedrops.
B. The child should be allowed to instill his own eye drops.
C. The mother should be allowed to instill the eyedrops.
D. If the eye is clear from any redness or edema, the eye drops should be held.
Correct Answer: A. The eye should be cleansed with warm water, removing any exudate, before instilling the eyedrops.
Before instilling eye drops, the nurse should cleanse the area with water. Cleanse the eyelids and lashes with cotton balls or gauze pledgets moistened with normal saline or water. This prevents debris to be carried into the eye when the conjunctival sac is exposed.
Option B: A 6-year-old child is not developmentally ready to instill his own eye drops. An ophthalmic assistant, technician, nurse or physician instills eye drops during a routine eye examination or during treatment for ocular disease.
Option C: Although the mother of the child can instill the eye drops, the area must be cleansed before administration. Use each cotton ball or pledget for only one stroke, moving from the inner to the outer canthus of the eye.
Option D: Although the eye might appear to be clear, the nurse should instill the eyedrops, as ordered, so answer D is incorrect. Allow the prescribed number of drops to fall in the lower conjunctival sac but do not allow to fall onto the cornea. Release the lower lid after the drops are instilled. Instruct the patient to close eyes slowly, move the eye and not to squeeze or rub.