Question

A nurse is teaching the daughter of an older adult patient how to instill eye drops in the patient's right eye. Which of the following statements indicates that the daughter has understood the directions?

A. "I will have my mother look down while dropping the medication into her eye."
B. "I will instruct my mother to tightly close her eye for 30-60 seconds after the medication has been given."
C. "I should apply the medication using a thin stream from the inner canthus to the outer canthus."
D. "I will pull down her lower eyelid and drop the medication inside."

Answer 1

The correct statement by the daughter is that she will pull down her mother's lower eyelid and drop the medication inside, which is the proper technique for administering eye drops.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that indicates the daughter has understood the directions for instilling eye drops in an older adult patient's right eye is "I will pull down her lower eyelid and drop the medication inside." This technique is the correct method, as it allows the eye drops to be placed into the conjunctival sac without causing injury to the eye. The patient can then close their eye gently to allow the medication to spread evenly.

Option A suggests having the mother look down, but it's more common to look up when administering eye drops. Option B, instructing the patient to tightly close the eyes, might prevent the medication from spreading evenly. Option C's thin stream medication application is not appropriate for eye drops; eye drops should be administered in drops, not in streams.