A nurse is caring for a client who is in labor and receiving oxytocin. The electronic fetal monitor indicates contractions every 50 seconds, lasting 2 min and late decelerations. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Rationale:

A. "You should not drink through a straw for 2 weeks.": Drinking through a straw can create pressure in the middle ear, which may dislodge the tympanic membrane graft or interfere with healing after a myringotomy. Avoiding straws is an important precaution to protect the surgical site and promote proper recovery.

B. "You should expect excessive ear drainage for about 48 hours": Some drainage may occur, but excessive drainage is not expected and could indicate infection or complications. Clients should be instructed to report any abnormal or persistent drainage to the provider rather than expecting it as normal.

C. "You can wash your hair 3 days after the procedure.": Hair washing is typically delayed until the provider confirms it is safe, usually after avoiding water in the ear for a few days. Premature washing could allow water to enter the middle ear, increasing the risk of infection.

D. "You should blow your nose with your mouth closed": Blowing the nose increases pressure in the middle ear and can compromise the healing of the tympanic membrane. Clients should be taught to avoid nose-blowing entirely or do so gently with the mouth open if necessary.

Rationale:

A. Strabismus: Strabismus, or misalignment of the eyes, is not a known adverse effect of timolol. Timolol primarily affects intraocular pressure and systemic cardiovascular parameters rather than eye muscle alignment.

B. Bradycardia: Timolol is a nonselective beta-adrenergic blocker that can be absorbed systemically even when administered as eye drops. One potential systemic adverse effect is bradycardia, as the medication can reduce heart rate and cardiac output, particularly in clients with preexisting heart conditions.

C. Conjunctivitis: While eye irritation or mild stinging can occur with timolol, conjunctivitis is not a typical adverse effect. Instructing clients to monitor for more common ocular side effects, such as burning or discomfort, is appropriate.

D. Hyperglycemia: Timolol does not typically cause hyperglycemia. Beta-blockers can sometimes mask hypoglycemia symptoms in diabetic clients but are not associated with raising blood glucose levels directly.