Eardrop (Otic) Medication Administration (Nursing)

00:04 So, let's look at the skill, eardrop or otic medication administration.

00:08 So, let's gather supplies. So, we're gonna need our medication, we're gonna need maybe even a penlight to assess will be a great idea and to look into that ear and some tissue to help with any extra drainage.

00:21 So, don't forget those very important using the seven rights of medication administration.

00:28 So, when we start to give otic medications, we wanna have the patient turn their head to the side to expose their ear that you're going to administer in.

00:38 So, a great example of this, if I have to give medications in my right ear, for example, I want that right ear up to the sky.

00:46 So, if we're gonna administer to that ear, that ear to the sky.

00:50 So, then, we can take our penlight for example or something to help us visualize the inside of that patient's ear canal.

00:57 We need to see if there's any obstruction or drainage that needs to be removed from the outer part of the ear.

01:04 So, this is important as a nursing student.

01:06 We don't wanna go digging into patient's ear canals because we can definitely cause damage.

01:12 We're really just talking about any excess drainage or crusties or something like that in the outer portion of the ear. So, when we give otic medications, something to consider about the adults versus the pediatric client.

01:27 Anatomy's a little bit different.

01:29 So, for adults, excuse me, we wanna gently pull up and back on the pinna to straighten the ear canal.

01:36 The reason why we do this, if we pull up and back, it'll straighten that canal.

01:43 We can give the eardrops and it's gonna get where we need to go.

01:47 Now, for an infant, it's a little bit different.

01:49 We wanna gently pull that pinna down and back.

01:54 That will also help straighten that ear canal so the medication can get there appropriately.

01:59 So, once we pull the pinna up and back or down and back for a pediatric patient, we instill the prescribed number of drops into the ear canal.

02:09 Then after that, we can take the tragus here and just massage that to make sure it absorbs.

02:15 Sometimes this gets a little bit messy, so, we may wanna get a tissue and if it drips out of the ear or falls into the face, we can help clean this up for a client.

02:25 So, keep in mind, when we give those ear drops, we want our patients to stay on their side to give it maximum time to go all the way to the ear canal.

02:36 Then, we wanna repeat the procedure as necessary to the opposite ear.

02:44 I'm here with Brandon today to give an otic administration or just to give him some ear drops.

02:50 So, when we do this, notice I've got Brandon in a nice, comfortable position.

02:54 So, whichever ear that I'm going to give the medication in, I want it up towards the sky. So, think about ear to the sky.

03:02 So, now that he's comfortable, I'm going to assess his ear.

03:05 I don't see any excessive obstruction or anything in the outer portion of the ear.

03:10 Now, since he's an adult, just to get to the ear canal, we need to remember to pull on the pinna up and back when I give the medication.

03:19 So, now, I'm gonna take my medicine. I also have a cotton ball for Brandon as well once I'm done.

03:27 So, I'm gonna take his pinna of his ear and pull it up and back.

03:30 What this is going to do is straighten the ear canal, and then, I can give the medication.

03:40 So, I've administered the medication and now, I can massage the tragus part of his ear just to kind of help work down that medication.

03:47 Once I've administered the ear drop medication, I wanna have Brandon stay in this laying position.

03:53 That way, it can definitely absorb down the ear canal.

03:56 I'm also gonna give a cotton ball and place that just gently, not packing it too much in his ear just to absorb any excess fluid that may leak out.

04:06 Then, if necessary, once this is absorbed, we can repeat it on the other side.

04:15 So, a couple of considerations in regards to otic medications is we don't wanna insert a tissue or a cotton-tipped applicator into the ear canal itself.

04:25 Things to consider are do warm those ear drops to room temperature for comfort for your clients and also, be careful about pulling on the patient's ear.

04:34 Sometimes, they're getting those ear drops because of an ear infection and they can be really painful and tender.

04:40 And next, for maximum absorption, at least allow about three to five minutes between administration if multiple ear drops are ordered.