Question

A nurse is providing discharge instructions to the mother of a child who had a myringotomy with the insertion of tympanostomy tubes. The nurse instructs the mother that if the tubes fall out, she should:

a) Apply antibiotic ointment to the ear canal
b) Keep the ear dry and avoid water exposure
c) Insert cotton balls into the ear canal
d) Schedule an immediate follow-up with the healthcare provider

Answer 1

If tympanostomy tubes fall out, the ear should be kept dry and a healthcare provider should be consulted for a follow-up.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the tympanostomy tubes fall out after a myringotomy, the mother should keep the ear dry and avoid water exposure. This can help prevent infection or further complications in the affected ear. Cotton balls should not be inserted into the ear canal, and antibiotic ointment is not needed in this case. However, it is important that the mother schedules a follow-up visit with the healthcare provider to ensure the health and proper healing of the child's ear.