Make ear irrigations less traumatic
Make ear irrigations less traumatic
When irrigating a child's ear, try using the tubing of a butterfly needle, recommends Judy Selfridge-Thomas, RN, MSN, CEN, FNP, nurse practitioner in the ED at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, CA. Cut the tubing about 1-1.5 inches from the end, so that the syringe connecting hub is attached. Then attach a 10-20 cc syringe filled with warm water into the hub. Insert the tubing into the child's ear and gently irrigate. "The tubing is soft and less irritating to the child's ear canal, making the procedure a little less traumatic," she notes.
[Editor's note: Each month, ED Nursing will share a Tip of the Month with our readers. We'd love to include your ED's tip. Contact Staci Bonner, Editor, American Health Consultants, P.O.Box 740056, Atlanta, GA 30374. Telephone: (516) 626-0147. Fax: (516) 626-2957. E-mail: [email protected]]
Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.