Question

A nurse instills medicated drops into the ear of an adult. What should the nurse do to ensure that the medication flows toward the eardrum?

1) Pull the pinna of the ear backward and downward
2) Insert the drops into the center of the auditory canal
3) Press the tragus of the ear several times after insertion
4) Roll the patient from the side-lying to the supine position

Answer 1

To facilitate medicated ear drops reaching the eardrum in an adult, the pinna should be pulled upward and backward and the tragus pressed after administration.

Step-by-step explanation:

To ensure that medicated drops flow toward the eardrum when instilling them into the ear of an adult, the nurse should pull the pinna of the ear upward and backward. This manipulation straightens the auditory canal in an adult, allowing the medication to flow easily toward the eardrum. After inserting the drops, it can also be helpful to press the tragus of the ear several times to help the drops move into the ear canal. It is not necessary to insert the drops directly into the center of the auditory canal, nor is it recommended to roll the patient from the side-lying to the supine position immediately after administration as this might cause the medication to flow out of the ear canal.