Question

The nurse provides instruction for an adult patient who is prescribed ear drops in the treatment of otitis media. Which patient statement indicates the need for additional teaching?

A. "I will pull the pinna down and back to administer the drops."
B. "I will place a cotton ball in the ear after the drops are administered."
C. "I will gently move my head back and forth after administering the drops."
D. "I will place the bottle of ear drops in warm water for several minutes before
administration."

Answer 1

The incorrect patient statement for administering ear drops in adults is to 'pull the pinna down and back', which is the technique for children, not adults.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns finding the inappropriate patient statement following a nurse's instruction for administering ear drops for otitis media treatment. The statement that indicates a need for additional teaching is "I will pull the pinna down and back to administer the drops." This method is correct for infants or children under 3 years of age, but for an adult, the proper technique is to pull the pinna up and back to straighten the ear canal and facilitate the entry of drops. Placing ear drops in warm water before administration, placing a cotton ball after administration, and gently moving the head back and forth are all appropriate steps that may be advised.