INSTILLATION OF EAR DROPS

INSTILLATION OF EAR DROPS

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                Instillation of ear drops into the auditory canal

Purpose

• To clean the ear
• To remove the foreign body or wax
• To relieve inflammation, congestion and pain
• To kill an insect lodged in the ear
• To anesthetize

General Instructions

• Explain the procedure clearly to get patients cooperation
• The auditory canal should be cleaned before instill the ear drops
• Drops must be warm, when they are instilled into the ear
• Hold the pinna of the ear upward and backward in case of adults and in children put it down backward to straighten the external auditory canal
• Plug the ear with a small cotton ball or a small gauze piece
• Allow 3 or 4 drops trickle down on one side of the canal so that the air may escape from the auditory canal and medication may reach up on the ear drum
• Do not ignore any complaint by the patient

Equipment

A small tray containing

• Medicine with dropper
• Applicators with cotton tips
• Normal saline
• Little cotton
• Kidney tray and paper bag

Procedure

• Wash hands and collect the articles and take it to the bedside
• Explain procedure to the patient
• Place the patient in supine or sitting position with head to side and the affected ear up
• Pull the pinna down and back in case of adult and down and back case of infant/child. Rest the other hand on patients head to avoid damaging the ear with dropper if the patient moves
• Instill the medicine drop by drop directing the flow toward the canal do not allow the dropper to touch the ear
• Place loose cotton in the outer ear absorbs any excess medicine and keeps the patients head turned to the side for 10 to 15 minutes

After Care

• Place the patient comfortably
• Replace the articles
• Hand wash
• Record the procedure in nurse’s record sheet