Chapter 43, Caring for Clients With Ear Disorders.

1.You are teaching the daughter how to instill ear drops of her father to remove impacted cerumen. What is important to teach this woman? A) Insert the irrigating syringe deeply. B) Direct the flow of the ear drops toward the eardrum. C) Refrigerate before instillation. D) Place the container in warm water before instillation. Ans: D Feedback: If irrigation or instillation of liquids is ordered, the nurse should warm the liquid to body temperature by placing the container in warm water. Cold or hot liquids cause dizziness, and the potential for injury exists if the liquid is hot. The nurse should avoid inserting the irrigating syringe too deeply so as not to close off the auditory canal. The nurse should direct the flow toward the roof of the canal, rather than the eardrum. 2.A client comes to the walk-in clinic complaining of a “bug in my ear.” What action should be taken when there is an insect in the ear? A) Instillation of mineral oil B) Instillation of carbamide peroxide C) Instillation of hot water D) Use of a small forceps Ans: A Feedback: Mineral oil is instilled into the ear to smother an insect. Carbamide peroxide is used to soften dried cerumen, and small forceps are used to remove solid objects. Hot liquids cause dizziness and should not be instilled in the ear. 3.You are teaching a class on diseases of the ear. What would you teach the class is the most characteristic symptom of otosclerosis?