Question

Discussion: Otic and Ophthalmic Preparations The clinic nurse is caring for Joseph Bonnet, a 2-year-old patient who has a fever of 101 F, excessive tearing of the left eye with redness, nasal congestion, and non-stop crying. The nurse notes that the child is continually tugging at his ears. After a comprehensive assessment, the healthcare provider has diagnosed him with an upper respiratory infection, bilateral otitis media and conjunctivitis. The healthcare provider has prescribed an oral antibiotic, benzocaine eardrops, and ophthalmic drops to treat the conjunctivitis. Prior to discharge the nurse has to administer both the eardrops and eye drops. Discuss the proper administration of eardrops and eye drops in a 2-year-old child following the steps of the nursing process in medication administration

Answer 1

Ear Medication: Ear Drops administration
1. Wash hands and childʼs hands.
2. Rub the medicine bottle between the palms of your hands or place in warm water
to warm the drops.
3. Feel a drop to make sure drops arenʼt too hot or too cold.
4. Ask the child to lie down or sit with the affected ear facing up.

5. Observe for any discharge (thick yellow or green substance), pus (cloudy), or
blood. (If there is any, do not give medicine and report to parent/guardian.)
6. If there is drainage (clear liquid) remove it with a clean tissue or cotton tipped
applicator. Do NOT clean any more than the outer ear.
7. Place the wrist of the hand you will be using to give medicine on the cheek or head.
8. Place the dropper/nozzle above the childʼs ear canal.
For children UNDER 3 years of age:
a. Gently pull the outer flap of the affected ear
DOWNWARD and backward to straighten
the ear canal.
b. Look for ear canal to open.

9. Squeeze the dropper slowly and firmly to release the appropriate amount of
medicine on the side of the ear canal.
10. Ask the child to remain lying down for about 1-2 minutes so the medicine will
be absorbed.
11. Gently rub the skin in front of the ear to help the drug flow to the inside of the ear.
12. Place a cotton ball in the childʼs affected ear to avoid leakage of the medicine.
Replace the cotton ball each time the medicine is given. Avoid inserting q-tips®
into the ear.
13. Rinse the dropper tip in water after each use before capping or returning it to
the bottle.
14. Replace the cap immediately after each use.
15. Wash hands and document medication administration.

Eye drop administration

1. Wash your hands.

2. Get your child into any of these positions to give the eye drops:

   • tilt your child’s head back

   • lay your child flat on his or her back

   • ask someone to hold your child in a safe position

   • wrap your baby or young child in a light blanket or sheet to keep his or her arms and legs still

1. Shake the bottle
2. Remove the top from the bottle and throw away the plastic seal.

3. Gently pull down your child’s lower eyelid.

4. Avoid touching the dropper against your child’s eye, eyelashes or any other surface.

5. Hold the dropper above your child’s eye and squeeze one drop into the lower eyelid avoiding the corner of his or her eye.

6. Release the lower eyelid and let your child blink a few times to make sure the drop is spread around the eye.

7. Put the top back on the bottle.

8. Wipe away any excess with a clean tissue.

9. If you are using another type of eye drop, wait a few minutes before giving it. This will stop the first drop being washed out by the second before it has had time to work.

Hope it helps if it does please don't forget to upvote.

Thankyou!