Exam 16: Ears

How should the nurse perform an examination of a 2-year-old child with a suspected ear infection?

While performing the otoscopic examination of a 3-year-old boy who has been pulling on his left ear, the nurse finds that his left tympanic membrane is bright red and that the light reflex is not visible. What do these findings indicate?

A patient in her first trimester of pregnancy is diagnosed with rubella. Which of these statements is correct regarding the significance of this in relation to the infant's hearing?

The mother of a 2-year-old toddler is concerned about the upcoming placement of tympanostomy tubes in her son's ears. The nurse would include which of these statements in the teaching plan?

The mother of a 2-year-old is concerned because her son has had three ear infections in the past year. What would be an appropriate response by the nurse?

When performing an otoscopic examination of a 5-year-old child with a history of chronic ear infections, the nurse sees that his right tympanic membrane is amber-yellow in color and that air bubbles are visible behind the tympanic membrane. The child reports occasional hearing loss and a popping sound with swallowing. Based on this data, what does the nurse conclude?

A 17-year-old student is a swimmer on her high school's swim team. She has had three bouts of otitis externa this season and wants to know what to do to prevent it. What should the nurse include in the instructions?

An assessment of a 23-year-old patient reveals the following: an auricle that is tender and reddish-blue in color with small vesicles. The nurse would need to know additional information that includes which of these?

The nurse is assessing a 16-year-old patient who has suffered head injuries from a recent motor vehicle accident. Which of these statements indicates the most important reason for assessing for any drainage from the ear canal?

The nurse is conducting a child safety class for new mothers. Which factor places young children at risk for ear infections?

The nurse is preparing to perform an otoscopic examination of a newborn infant. Which statement is true regarding this examination?

A 31-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has noticed pain in his left ear when people speak loudly to him. What does this finding indicate?

During an interview, the patient states he has the sensation that "everything around him is spinning." What part of the ear should the nurse recognize is responsible for this sensation?

The nurse is reviewing the function of the cranial nerves (CNs). Which CN is responsible for conducting nerve impulses to the brain from the organ of Corti?

The nurse is performing an otoscopic examination on an adult. Which of these actions is correct?

The nurse assesses the hearing of a 7-month-old by clapping hands. What is the expected response?

The nurse suspects that a patient has otitis media. Early signs of otitis media include which of these findings of the tympanic membrane?

When examining the ear with an otoscope, how should the tympanic membrane look?

A 31-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has noticed a progressive loss in his hearing. He says that it does seem to help when people speak louder or if he turns up the volume of a television or radio. What is the most likely cause of this hearing loss?

A patient has been identified as having a sensorineural hearing loss. What would be important for the nurse to do during the assessment of this patient?