This document provides instructions for instilling ear drops. It describes the purpose of ear drops which is to treat infections, soften ear wax, produce local anesthesia, reduce ear pain, and kill insects in the auditory canal. It lists the contraindication of a ruptured eardrum. Equipment needed includes a bowl, cotton balls, gauze, dropper, and medication. Steps provided include explaining the process to the patient, positioning them, cleaning the ear, warming the drops, inserting them drop by drop, having the patient remain positioned, and recording any complaints. Additional instructions are given for instilling drops in children.

1. Dissertation presentation
Ms Luke Nisha Mohan
Instillation of
ear drops
Mr. Manikandan.T,
RN., RM., M.Sc(N)., D.C.A .,(Ph.D)
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Medical Surgical Nursing,
VMCON, Puducherry.

2. • Instillation of drops in to the
auditory canal

3. PurposePurpose
Treat infection
To soften ear wax
Produce local anesthesia
Reduce ear pain
Kill insect lodged in auditory canal

4. Contraindication
• Rupture of tympanic membrane

5. EquipmentEquipment
• Bowl of warm water
• Cotton balls
• Gauze piece
• Kidney tray/ paper bag
• Dropper
• Eye medication

6. • Explain
• If the patient is child or uncooperative adult,
restrain his hands
• Place the patient in side lying position with head
turned to one side with affected ear upper most
• Auditory canal should be cleaned before
instilling the ear drops
• Drops must be warmed in order to warm the ear
drops. Place the container in a bowl of warm
water or rinse the dropper 3 or 4 times in hot
water and then take the medication

7. • Draw the medication in a dropper. Straighten ear
canal by pulling ear pinna upward and backward
in case of adults , downward and backward incase
of child
• Instill the medication drop by drop 3 or 4 trickle
down on one side of the canal
• Ask the pt to remain in same position for few mts
• Plug the ear with cotton ball or small gauze piece
• Any complaints report to physician
• Record

8. Ear drops instillation forEar drops instillation for
childrenchildren
Equipment:
• Soap and water
• Towel
• Wash cloth
• Medication
• Kidney tray/ paper bag

9. Procedure
• Step 1:
wash hands with soap and water . Dry
them with towel
• Step 2:
clean the outside of the child ear using a
warm wash cloth or wet wipe. Remove any
crusting or dirt. Don’t insert anything into
child’s ear
• Step 3 :
warm the bottle of ear drops if the weather
or room is cold. Rub the bottle back and forth
between palms to let the warmth of the body
heat the bottle

10. Cont.,
• Step 4:
shake the medication if the directions on
the bottle indicate you should do so
• Step 5:
ask the child to sit with his / her ear tilted
up or have the child lie down on his side
• Step 6:
insert the dropper in the bottle. Squeeze
the bulb or the tube at the end of the dropper,
then release the bulb to draw the medication
into the dropper

11. Cont.,
• Step 7:
grasp the child ear lobe in one hand to
straighten earlobe. If the child is younger than
3, pull the earlobe down toward the shoulder
and back, toward the back of the head. If the
child is older than 3, pull the earlobe up
toward the top of the head and back toward the
back of the head

12. Cont.,
• Step 8:
place the number of drops prescribed .
Wipe any excess drops off the outside of the
ear
• Step 9:
have the child remain with her head tilted
or lying on her side for few minutes to allow
the drops to flow all th way into the ear