Final answer:
The nurse should document the reddish drainage from the child's ear after a myringotomy as expected postoperative drainage. This is a normal response to the surgery and doesn't typically require immediate notification of a healthcare provider unless associated with other symptoms suggesting a complication.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse is assigned to care for a child after a myringotomy with the insertion of tympanostomy tubes and notices a small amount of reddish drainage from the child's ear post-surgery. The correct action for the nurse to take in this situation would be b) Document the finding as expected postoperative drainage. This is because some minor bleeding or reddish drainage is normal following a myringotomy procedure.
Postoperative care typically includes monitoring for unexpected complications and managing normal post-surgical responses. Signs of infection, such as pus or excessive drainage, fever, or significant pain, would warrant further investigation and potential notification of the healthcare provider. However, it's important to differentiate between normal postoperative symptoms and signs of potential complications.
The nurse should avoid actions that could potentially harm the surgical site, such as c) Perform a thorough ear irrigation, without orders from a healthcare provider, as this could dislodge the tubes or cause other complications. Similarly, d) Administer antibiotics intravenously, should only be done under the direct order of a healthcare provider after confirming an infection. a) Notify the healthcare provider immediately, would not be the first step unless the drainage was excessive or accompanied by other concerning symptoms.