EENT Flashcards
Conjunctivitis Infection Precautions
To prevent the spread of bacterial conjunctivitis, it is essential not to share towels or washcloths with anyone while infected (Choice A). This is appropriate advice for preventing reinfection of bacterial conjunctivitis. If a client wears the same contact lenses, they will likely spread the disease for a second time and become infected again. They should also be instructed to discard their eye makeup to prevent reinfection (Choice D). Remind adolescent about how to perform proper hand hygiene and to perform prior to touching face or eyes to prevent spread of bacteria
It is okay to go back to school after 24 hours of antibiotics Applying a compress will help improve comfort for the client with bacterial conjunctivitis, but has nothing to do with preventing the spread of the infection. Furthermore, utilizing a warm compress would cause further irritation with bacterial conjunctivitis; instead, a cold compress should be used.
✓ Bacterial conjunctivitis is commonly called “pink eye” due to the pinkness/redness it causes is one or both eyes
✓ Other symptoms may include itchy eyes, discharge, light sensitivity, gritty feeling, and watery eyes
After instilling eyedrops, what intervention will decrease systemic absorption?
Eye drops are often prescribed for their topical effects in relieving local eye conditions. Occasionally, side effects may occur due to systemic absorption of the active medication in the eye drop solutions. Certain precautions can help reduce systemic absorption and minimize side effects. Mucous membranes of the eye serve as the routes of systemic absorption. Placing a finger over the inner canthus occludes the nasolacrimal duct preventing the eye drop solution from reaching the mucous membranes and being absorbed into the systemic circulation.
Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is a condition that is caused by excessive endolymphatic fluid in the inner ear. This relapsing and remitting disease may bring bouts of tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss. Treatment includes diuretics, antiemetics, antihistamines, and a diet low in sodium.
Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is a condition that is caused by excessive endolymphatic fluid in the inner ear. This relapsing and remitting disease may bring bouts of tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss. Treatment includes diuretics, antiemetics, antihistamines, and a diet low in sodium.
Procedure for Instilling Eye drops
To administer eye drops, the nurse should perform the following -
Perform hand hygiene and apply clean gloves. Ask the client to lie supine or sit back in the chair with head slightly hyperextended, looking up
If drainage or crusting is present along eyelid margins or inner canthus, gently wash away. Soak any dried crusts with a warm, damp washcloth or cotton ball over the eye for several minutes. Always wipe clean from inner to the outer canthus. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.
Explain that there might be a temporary burning sensation from drops.
Hold a clean cotton ball or tissue on the client’s cheekbone below the lower eyelid in the non-dominant hand.
With tissue or cotton ball resting below the lower lid, gently press downward with thumb or forefinger against the bony orbit, exposing the conjunctival sac. Never press directly against the client’s eyeball.
Ask the client to look at the ceiling. Rest a dominant hand on the client’s forehead; hold the filled medication eyedropper approximately 1 to 2 cm (½–1 inch) above the conjunctival sac.
Drop the prescribed number of drops into the conjunctival sac.
When administering drops with systemic effects, apply gentle pressure to the client’s nasolacrimal duct with clean tissue for 30 to 60 seconds over each eye, one at a time. Avoid pressure directly against the client’s eyeball.
After instilling drops, ask the client to close their eyes gently.
The occupational health nurse was called to see a client who sustained injuries from a light bulb explosion. On assessment, the nurse notes that a piece of glass was lodged in the client’s eye. The initial nursing intervention should be
To prevent the intraocular pressure (IOP) from increasing, the client should be advised to remain seated, as the lying position may increase IOP and cause the glass to advance further into the eye. The nurse should also recommend the client rest and avoid unnecessary movement until a specialist (typically an ophthalmologist on call) arrives to evaluate the client.
Cardinal signs of epiglottitis
The cardinal signs of epiglottitis are the “4 Ds” - drooling, dysphonia, dysphagia, and distress. Difficulty swallowing is dysphagia and difficulty speaking is dysphonia. Stridor is a high-pitched wheezing sound caused by disrupted airflow, hence the distress. This child is presenting with all of those cardinal symptoms and is therefore highly suspicious of epiglottitis.
Homonymous Hemianopia
Homonymous hemianopia (HH) is vision loss on the same side of the visual field in both eyes. It is appropriate for the nurse to teach the client to scan the room. Scanning the room will expand the visual field because the same half of each eye is affected.
Homonymous Hemianopia is characterized by vision loss on the same side of the visual field in both eyes. This is usually caused by a stroke, tumors, or epilepsy. Visual field loss is indicative of a lesion involving the visual pathway posterior to the chiasm.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss is typically reversible and caused by cerumen, foreign body, tumor, edema, and acute infection.
is caused by an obstruction to the sound transmission within the ear. Causes of this type of hearing loss include cerumen, foreign body, water, edema, infection (otitis media), or tumor. This type of hearing loss may be reversible.
Sensorineural hearing loss
is caused by damaged hair cells within the inner ear or the impairment of the vestibulocochlear nerve. Causes of this type of hearing loss include prolonged exposure to noise, ototoxic substances (aminoglycosides), diabetes mellitus, and presbycusis (age-related hearing loss). This type of hearing loss is often not reversible.
How does the nurse test accommodation?
To test for accommodation, the nurse should darken the room and ask the client to gaze at a distant object (the far wall) and then at a test object (finger or pencil) held approximately 4 inches from the bridge of the client’s nose. The pupils normally converge and accommodate by constricting when looking at close objects.To test for accommodation, ask the client to gaze at a distant object (the far wall) and then at a test object (finger or pencil) held approximately 4 inches from the bridge of the client’s nose. The pupils normally converge and accommodate by constricting when looking at close objects. The pupillary responses are equal. Testing for accommodation is important only if the client has a defect in the pupillary response to light. If the assessment of pupillary reaction is normal in all tests, record the abbreviation PERRLA (pupils equal, round, reactive to light, and accommodation).
