Nokea
A patient is postoperative day 6 following tympanoplasty and mastoidectomy. The patient has phoned the surgical unit and states that she is experiencing occasional sharp, shooting pains in her affected ear. How should the nurse best interpret this patients complaint?
- A. These pains are an expected finding during the first few weeks of recovery.
- B. The patients complaints are suggestive of a postoperative infection.
- C. The patient may have experienced a spontaneous rupture of the tympanic membrane.
- D. The patients surgery may have been unsuccessful.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Sharp, shooting pains are normal post-tympanoplasty/mastoidectomy as the eustachian tube adjusts, typically resolving in 2-3 weeks. Infection would involve constant pain and fever, and there's no evidence of rupture or surgical failure.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse is reviewing the health history of a newly admitted patient and reads that the patient has been previously diagnosed with exostoses. How should the nurse accommodate this fact into the patients plan of care?
- A. The nurse should perform the Rinne and Weber tests.
- B. The nurse should arrange for audiometry testing as soon as possible.
- C. The nurse should collaborate with the pharmacist to assess for potential ototoxic medications.
- D. No specific assessments or interventions are necessary to addressing exostoses.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Exostoses are benign bony growths in the ear canal that typically do not affect hearing or require specific interventions. Testing or medication reviews are unnecessary unless other symptoms arise.
A group of high school students is attending a concert, which will be at a volume of 80 to 90 dB. What is a health consequence of this sound level?
- A. Hearing will not be affected by a decibel level in this range.
- B. Hearing loss may occur with a decibel level in this range.
- C. Sounds in this decibel level are not perceived to be harsh to the ear.
- D. Ear plugs will have no effect on these decibel levels.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sound levels above 80 dB can damage the inner ear, potentially causing hearing loss. These levels are perceived as harsh, and ear plugs can mitigate the risk.
The nurse in the ED is caring for a 4 year-old brought in by his parents who state that the child will not stop crying and pulling at his ear. Based on information collected by the nurse, which of the following statements applies to a diagnosis of external otitis?
- A. External otitis is characterized by aural tenderness.
- B. External otitis is usually accompanied by a high fever.
- C. External otitis is usually related to an upper respiratory infection.
- D. External otitis can be prevented by using cotton-tipped applicators to clean the ear.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aural tenderness is a key feature of otitis externa due to canal inflammation. High fever and upper respiratory infections are more typical of otitis media, and cotton-tipped applicators can cause otitis externa.
A patient has been diagnosed with serous otitis media for the third time in the past year. How should the nurse best interpret this patients health status?
- A. For some patients, these recurrent infections constitute an age-related physiologic change.
- B. The patient would benefit from a temporary mobility restriction to facilitate healing.
- C. The patient needs to be assessed for nasopharyngeal cancer.
- D. Blood cultures should be drawn to rule out a systemic infection.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Recurrent unilateral serous otitis media in adults may indicate nasopharyngeal cancer obstructing the eustachian tube, requiring evaluation. It is not age-related, does not require mobility restriction, and is not systemic.
A patient has been diagnosed with hearing loss related to damage of the end organ for hearing or cranial nerve VIII. What term is used to describe this condition?
- A. Exostoses
- B. Otalgia
- C. Sensorineural hearing loss
- D. Presbycusis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the cochlea or cranial nerve VIII. Exostoses are bony growths, otalgia is ear pain, and presbycusis is age-related hearing loss.