The nurse is answering questions from a young father, who brought ...

[SAVANNAHHOOPER23]

The nurse is answering questions from a young father, who brought his son to the clinic for an ear infection. The father asks the nurse, When should (tympanostomy) tubes be used on my son, and how will they help his ear infections?
 
  The nurse would be correct to respond that tympanostomy tubes should be used
  a. when fluid is in the outer ear, because they help drain the fluid.
  b. if the child has recurrent ear infections, because they can reduce the number of episodes.
  c. only when the stapes and the malleus are enlarged.
  d. only when the child has a serious acute infection of the tympanic membrane.

Question 2

A child with slight irritability is diagnosed with a mild case of otitis media. The prescriber recommends acetaminophen. The parent comments to a nurse, I expected my child to be started on an antibiotic.
 
  The nurse's best response or responses are which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
  a. Antibiotics are too expensive and toxic to be used in mild otitis media.
  b. The child is not sick enough to warrant an antibiotic.
  c. The provider does not believe antibiotics are ever indicated for otitis media.
  d. Mild otitis media usually resolves without antibiotics.
  e. Unnecessary antibiotics contribute to resistant organisms.

[stillxalice]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
A tympanostomy tube is used in children with recurrent acute otitis media (AOM); it can significantly reduce the number of AOM episodes.
Tympanostomy tubes are not indicated for fluid in the outer ear or when the stapes and malleus are enlarged.
Tympanostomy tubes are not used as a treatment for serious acute infection; antibiotics would be indicated.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D, E
Antibiotic therapy should be discouraged unless necessary, and most cases of otitis media that are not serious resolve on their own. Providing unnecessary antibiotics contributes to resistance among organisms and makes treatment difficult.
Antibiotics are not necessarily expensive or toxic.
The nurse should never tell a parent that a child is not sick enough.
Saying that the provider does not believe antibiotics are ever indicated for otitis media is incorrect, because antibiotics may be indicated if the prescriber considers that the condition warrants them.

[SAVANNAHHOOPER23]

TY

[stillxalice]

You're welcome