A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a child. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.
Apply pressure to the lacrimal punctum after administering the drops.
B.
Position the child side-lying on the bed before administering the drops.
C.
Wipe from the outer to the inner canthus after administering the drops.
D.
Flush the eye with normal saline solution before administering the drops.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. Apply pressure to the lacrimal punctum after administering the drops.
Explanation
Administering eye drops to a child requires careful technique to ensure effective delivery and minimize discomfort. Here’s a breakdown of the reasoning behind option A and why it is the correct choice, as well as the rationale for the other options.
A. Apply pressure to the lacrimal punctum after administering the drops.
Applying pressure to the lacrimal punctum (the small opening at the inner corner of the eye) after administering the drops helps prevent the medication from draining into the nasolacrimal duct. This technique increases the medication’s absorption by keeping it in contact with the conjunctival sac longer, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment. This is especially important in children, as they may be less able to communicate discomfort or the need for additional doses.
B. Position the child side-lying on the bed before administering the drops.
While positioning is important, the side-lying position is not generally recommended for administering eye drops. A more effective position is to have the child sit up with their head tilted back slightly, which helps in targeting the eye and makes it easier to instill the drops.
C. Wipe from the outer to the inner canthus after administering the drops.
This action is not appropriate after administering drops; it’s typically done before the procedure to clean the area. After administering eye drops, there is usually no need to wipe unless there is excessive tear or drainage. If wiping is necessary, it should be done from the inner to the outer canthus to avoid spreading any contaminants.
D. Flush the eye with normal saline solution before administering the drops.
Flushing the eye is not standard practice unless there is debris or a specific indication for doing so (like chemical exposure). It may not be necessary or appropriate, especially in routine drop administration.
In summary, applying pressure to the lacrimal punctum enhances medication effectiveness, while the other options either misinterpret procedural best practices or are unnecessary in routine eye drop administration.