Question

A client arrives at the emergency department with a foreign body in the left ear that has been determined to be an insect. Which intervention would the nurse anticipate to be prescribed initially?

Option 1: Administer ear drops.
Option 2: Use forceps to remove the insect.
Option 3: Irrigate the ear with warm water.
Option 4: Insert a cotton swab to absorb the insect.

Answer 1

The nurse would anticipate initially irrigating the ear with warm water to remove an insect from the client's left ear.

Step-by-step explanation:

The initial intervention that the nurse would anticipate in the case of a client arriving at the emergency department with a foreign body, specifically an insect, in the left ear would be to irrigate the ear with warm water. This is done to attempt to remove the insect without causing any harm to the client. The warm water helps to flush out the foreign body from the ear.

Using ear drops or inserting a cotton swab may not be effective in removing the insect, and there is a risk of pushing the insect further into the ear canal. Using forceps to remove the insect is not recommended as it may cause injury to the ear or push the insect deeper into the ear canal.