Page 1975 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

CHAPTER 57

Eye and Ear Medications

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Priority Concepts
Safety; Sensory Perception

I. Ophthalmic Medication Administration

A. Guidelines for the use of eye medications

1. Eye medications are usually in the form of drops or
ointments.
2. To prevent overflow of medication into the nasal and
pharyngeal passages, thus reducing systemic
absorption, instruct the client to apply pressure over
the inner canthus next to the nose for 30 to 60 seconds
following administration of the medication; instruct
the client to close the eye gently to help distribute the
medication (Fig. 57-1).
3. If both an eye drop and eye ointment are scheduled to
be administered at the same time, administer the eye
drop first.
4. Wash hands and don gloves before administering eye
medications to avoid contaminating the eye or
medication dropper or applicator.
5. Use a separate bottle or tube of medication for each
client to avoid accidental cross- contamination.
6. Place the prescribed dose of eye medication in the
lower conjunctival sac, never directly onto the cornea.
7. Avoid touching any part of the eye with the dropper
or applicator.
8. Administer glucocorticoid preparations before other
medications.
9. Monitor the pulse and blood pressure if the client is
receiving an ophthalmic beta blocker, and instruct the
client to do the same; the nurse should obtain pulse
parameters from the primary health care provider
(PHCP).
10. Instruct the client how to instill medication correctly
and supervise instillation until the client can do it

1975