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Carman Essentials of Pediatric Nursing
3rd Ed - Ch. 17 Nursing Care of the Child
with an Alteration in Sensory
Perception/Disorder of the Eyes or Ears.
Questions & Verified Answers 2025-2026
A 10-year-old boy has just been treated for otitis external and now the
nurse is teaching the boy and his parents about prevention. Which
recommendation should the nurse include?
a. Using alcohol and vinegar for soreness
b. Using cotton swabs to keep the inner ear dry
c. Using a hair dryer on cool to dry the ears
d. Washing the hair only when necessary - ANS Answer: c
A mixture of ½ rubbing alcohol and ½ vinegar squirted into the canal and
then allowed to run out is a good preventative measure, but not when
inflammation is present. Cotton swabs should not be placed in the ears to
dry them. He can wash his hair as needed. Using a hair dryer on a cool
setting to dry the ears works well as long as the vent is clean and free from
dust and hair that may have accumulated.
A child has been diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis. Which statements
by the child's parent indicate the need for further education? Select all that
apply.
a. "I'll continue to use eye drops to help with the redness."
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b. "All of us at home need to wash our hands really well."
c. "We should not use a towel that he has used."
d. "He can go back to school in 4 hours after that thick yellow drainage is
gone."
e. "This is really contagious." - ANSAnswer: a, d
Eye drops are not appropriate to use because rebound vasoconstriction
may occur and it is not actually treating the infection. The child can go back
to school 24 to 48 hours after the mucopurulent drainage is no longer
present.
The nurse is caring for a 10-year-old girl with acute periorbital cellulitis.
Which nursing intervention (therapy) is primary for this disorder?
a. Applying heated aqua pad to site
b. Administering antibiotics IV as ordered
c. Administering morphine sulfate as ordered
d. Monitoring for increased intracranial pressure - ANSAnswer: b
Intravenous antibiotics will be the primary therapy for this child, followed by
oral antibiotics. Warm compresses will be applied for 20 minutes every 2 to
4 hours. However, narcotic analgesics are not necessary to handle the pain
associated with this disorder.
The nurse is caring for a 2-year-old girl with persistent otitis media with
effusion. Which intervention is most important to the developmental health
of the child?
a. Informing the parents to avoid nonprescription drugs
2
Carman Essentials of Pediatric Nursing
3rd Ed - Ch. 17 Nursing Care of the Child
with an Alteration in Sensory
Perception/Disorder of the Eyes or Ears.
Questions & Verified Answers 2025-2026
A 10-year-old boy has just been treated for otitis external and now the
nurse is teaching the boy and his parents about prevention. Which
recommendation should the nurse include?
a. Using alcohol and vinegar for soreness
b. Using cotton swabs to keep the inner ear dry
c. Using a hair dryer on cool to dry the ears
d. Washing the hair only when necessary - ANS Answer: c
A mixture of ½ rubbing alcohol and ½ vinegar squirted into the canal and
then allowed to run out is a good preventative measure, but not when
inflammation is present. Cotton swabs should not be placed in the ears to
dry them. He can wash his hair as needed. Using a hair dryer on a cool
setting to dry the ears works well as long as the vent is clean and free from
dust and hair that may have accumulated.
A child has been diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis. Which statements
by the child's parent indicate the need for further education? Select all that
apply.
a. "I'll continue to use eye drops to help with the redness."
1
, 2
b. "All of us at home need to wash our hands really well."
c. "We should not use a towel that he has used."
d. "He can go back to school in 4 hours after that thick yellow drainage is
gone."
e. "This is really contagious." - ANSAnswer: a, d
Eye drops are not appropriate to use because rebound vasoconstriction
may occur and it is not actually treating the infection. The child can go back
to school 24 to 48 hours after the mucopurulent drainage is no longer
present.
The nurse is caring for a 10-year-old girl with acute periorbital cellulitis.
Which nursing intervention (therapy) is primary for this disorder?
a. Applying heated aqua pad to site
b. Administering antibiotics IV as ordered
c. Administering morphine sulfate as ordered
d. Monitoring for increased intracranial pressure - ANSAnswer: b
Intravenous antibiotics will be the primary therapy for this child, followed by
oral antibiotics. Warm compresses will be applied for 20 minutes every 2 to
4 hours. However, narcotic analgesics are not necessary to handle the pain
associated with this disorder.
The nurse is caring for a 2-year-old girl with persistent otitis media with
effusion. Which intervention is most important to the developmental health
of the child?
a. Informing the parents to avoid nonprescription drugs
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