Hi,
Answer:
When teaching a patient to administer eye medication, the nurse should provide the following instructions:
- Wash Hands: Begin by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water. This step helps prevent the introduction of any germs or contaminants into the eye during the administration process.
- Positioning: Instruct the patient to sit or lie down comfortably in a position that allows easy access to the eye. A seated position with the head slightly tilted backward or lying down with the head tilted back on a pillow is usually recommended.
- Remove Contact Lenses (if applicable): If the patient wears contact lenses, they should be removed before administering the eye medication. Contact lenses can interfere with the effectiveness of the medication and may also absorb the medication.
-Tilt Head Back: Ask the patient to gently tilt their head back and look upward. This helps create a clear path for the medication to enter the eye.
-Pull Down Lower Eyelid: Instruct the patient to use their non-dominant hand to gently pull down the lower eyelid, creating a small pocket between the eye and the lower lid.
- Apply Medication: Using the dominant hand, the patient should hold the medication dropper or ointment tube close to the eye but not touching it. The patient should squeeze the prescribed number of drops or apply a thin line of ointment into the pocket created by pulling down the lower eyelid.
- Close Eye Slowly: Instruct the patient to close the eye gently, without squeezing it shut tightly. This allows the medication to spread evenly over the eye surface.
- Pressure on Tear Duct: After administering the eye drops, instruct the patient to place gentle pressure with their finger on the tear duct (located on the inner corner of the eye) for about 1-2 minutes. This prevents the medication from draining into the tear duct and being absorbed systemically.
- Wait Between Medications (if applicable): If multiple eye medications are prescribed, instruct the patient to wait at least 5 minutes between administering each one. This allows sufficient time for each medication to be absorbed and prevents interactions between different medications.
- Replace Cap or Close Tube: Ensure that the medication bottle or tube is tightly closed immediately after use to prevent contamination or deterioration of the medication.
- Wash Hands Again: After administering the eye medication, the patient should wash their hands once more to maintain good hygiene.
It is essential for the nurse to demonstrate the administration technique and observe the patient practicing it to ensure that they can perform the procedure correctly and safely. Additionally, the nurse should provide the patient with clear written instructions for reference and address any questions or concerns the patient may have about their eye medication.