Question

The nurse observes an older male patient with glaucoma administer eye drops by tilting his head back, instilling each drop close to the inner canthus, & keeping his eye closed for 15 seconds. What action should the nurse take first?

A) Praise the patient for the correct technique
B) Instruct the patient to lie down for 15 minutes
C) Correct the patient's technique for administering eye drops
D) Ask the patient if he has experienced any side effects from the eye drops

Answer 1

The nurse should correct the patient's technique for administering eye drops to ensure effective delivery of the medication to the eye. The proper method avoids direct instillation onto the inner canthus and involves applying gentle pressure to the nasolacrimal duct after administration.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse observes an older male patient with glaucoma administer eye drops by tilting his head back, instilling each drop close to the inner canthus, and keeping his eye closed for 15 seconds. The first action the nurse should take is to correct the patient's technique for administering eye drops. It is essential for proper medication administration and to ensure the eye drop reaches the correct part of the eye without unnecessary waste or reduced effectiveness. The correct technique involves the patient looking up and away from the dropper, placing the drop into the conjunctival sac rather than directly onto the inner canthus, and gently closing the eye or blinking to spread the medication evenly without squeezing the eye shut, which can push the medication out. Afterward, the patient can apply gentle pressure to the nasolacrimal duct to minimize systemic absorption and potential side effects.