The advanced practice nurse is attempting to examine the patient's ear with an otoscope. Because of impacted cerumen, the tympanic membrane cannot be visualized
The nurse irrigates the patient's ear with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water to remove the impacted cerumen. What nursing intervention is most important to minimize nausea and vertigo during the procedure?
A) Maintain the irrigation fluid at a warm temperature.
B) Instill short, sharp bursts of fluid into the ear canal.
C) Follow the procedure with insertion of a cerumen curette to extract missed ear wax.
D) Have the patient stand during the procedure.
Ans: A
Feedback:
Warm water (never cold or hot) and gentle, not forceful, irrigation should be used to remove cerumen. Too forceful irrigation can cause perforation of the tympanic membrane, and ice water causes vomiting. Cerumen curettes should not be routinely used by the nurse. Special training is required to use a curette safely. It is unnecessary to have the patient stand during the procedure.
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