Author Question: George Handell, 78 years old, has a history of cerumen impaction. The best nursing intervention for ... (Read 49 times)

Hungry! · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

George Handell, 78 years old, has a history of cerumen impaction. The best nursing intervention for Mr. Handell would be to

a. Instruct Mr. Handell to use cotton-tipped applicators to clean the cerumen out of his ears
b. Encourage Mr. Handell to have an audiological examination and to be fitted with hearing aids
c. Schedule appointments on a regular basis with Mr. Handell's physician to have cerumen impaction removed
d. Refer Mr. Handell to a sign language class while he still has some of his hearing intact

Question 2

Many older adults complain of vague indigestion and take over-the-counter antacids. Frequent use of certain antacids can result in a deficiency of

a. Iron
b. Vitamin B12
c. Phosphorus
d. Vitamin A

whitcassie · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 11, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C
Impacted cerumen can be removed by a physician or by a registered nurse under the direction of a physician. Most commonly, the external canal is irrigated using a syringe, or the older person is instructed to use an eardrop to soften the cerumen to facilitate its removal. Occlusion of the ear canal with cerumen can cause hearing difficulties; however, these hearing problems resolve after the cerumen is removed. Responses B and D are unnecessary. Response A is incorrect. The use of cotton-tipped applicators to clean the ear canal may increase the older person's hearing difficulties by pushing the cerumen deeper into the ear canal.

Answer to Question 2

C
Many antacids contain aluminum hydroxide, which reacts chemically with phosphorus in the body and cancels out its usefulness to the body. This could result in a deficiency in phosphorus that could be manifested by loss of appetite, weakness, and pain.