Nokea
The clinic nurse is teaching the parent how to give eye drops to the 3-year-old who has bacterial conjunctivitis and purulent drainage out of both eyes, swollen eyelids, and inflamed conjunctiva. What information should the nurse provide?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A: It is necessary to secure the child prior to instilling eye drops to ensure that the child receives the entire prescribed dose. The child is likely to resist instillation of the eye drops because a child is told not to put anything in the eyes and is likely to remember painful experiences such as dust or a foreign object that has gotten into the eye. B: The child should be supine, not sitting, when instilling eye drops. C: The child should be supine, not in a head-down position, when instilling eye drops. D: Telling the child what is happening is important, but at the age of 3, a detailed explanation will not make the child more cooperative.