Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

SKILL 5-18

Instilling Ear Drops (Continued)

Comments

b. Ask the patient to state his or her name and birth date,

based on facility policy.

c. If the patient cannot identify him- or herself, verify the

patient’s identification with a staff member who knows

the patient for the second source.

15. Complete necessary assessments before administering med-
    ications. Check the patient’s allergy bracelet or ask the
    patient about allergies. Explain the purpose and action of
    each medication to the patient.


16. Scan the patient’s bar code on the identification band, if
    required.


17. Put on gloves.


18. Cleanse external ear of any drainage with cotton ball or
    washcloth moistened with normal saline.


19. Place patient on his or her unaffected side in bed, or, if
    ambulatory, have patient sit with head well tilted to the
    side so that affected ear is uppermost.


20. Draw up the amount of solution needed in the dropper. Do
    not return excess medication to stock bottle. A prepackaged,
    monodrip plastic container may also be used.


21. Straighten auditory canal by pulling cartilaginous portion
    of pinna up and back for an adult.


22. Hold dropper in the ear with its tip above the auditory
    canal. Do not touch the dropper to the ear. For an infant
    or an irrational or confused patient, protect the dropper
    with a piece of soft tubing to help prevent injury to the ear.
    23.Allow drops to fall on the side of the canal.


23. Release pinna after instilling drops, and have patient main-
    tain the position to prevent escape of medication.


24. Gently press on the tragus a few times.


25. If ordered, loosely insert a cotton ball into the ear canal.


26. Remove gloves. Assist the patient to a comfortable
    position.


27. Remove additional PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.


28. Document the administration of the medication immediately
    after administration.


29. Evaluate the patient’s response to medication within
    appropriate time frame.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice