A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is 12 hr postpartum and has an episiotomy. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

Answer: A. Pull the auricle upward and outward.

Rationale:

A. Pull the auricle upward and outward:
Pulling the auricle upward and outward is the recommended technique for instilling ear drops in an adult. This method straightens the ear canal, allowing better access for the medication to reach the target area. It is essential for effective delivery and absorption of the otic suspension.

B. Pull the auricle downward and backward:
Pulling the auricle downward and backward is appropriate for children under three years old, as it aligns their shorter and straighter ear canal. In adults, this approach would not straighten the canal sufficiently for optimal medication instillation.

C. Pull the auricle upward and backward:
While pulling the auricle upward and backward can straighten the adult ear canal, the optimal direction to ensure the ear canal is fully open is upward and outward. This position allows the medication to reach deeper parts of the ear canal effectively.

D. Pull the auricle downward and outward:
Pulling the auricle downward and outward is not suitable for adults and does not provide the correct alignment for an adult ear canal. This technique is ineffective in reaching the canal's deeper parts in adult clients, thus limiting the efficacy of the medication.

The charge nurse should explain to the assistive personnel (AP) that one of the responsibilities of a licensed practical nurse (LPN) is providing direct client care. LPNs work under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and are trained to deliver basic nursing care to clients. This includes tasks such as administering medications, monitoring vital signs, dressing wounds, assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), and reporting any changes in the client's condition to the RN.

The other options are not typically within the scope of practice for an LPN:

a. Coordinating client care: The coordination of client care is primarily the responsibility of the RN. While LPNs may contribute to the coordination of care by providing input and collaborating with the healthcare team, the overall coordination is usually managed by the RN.

c. Assessing a client's health status: Assessing a client's health status is a role primarily performed by RNs. LPNs may gather data and contribute to the assessment process, but the comprehensive assessment and interpretation of data is typically the responsibility of the RN.

d. Identifying specific client health problems: Identifying specific client health problems and formulating nursing diagnoses is part of the RN's role. LPNs may assist in collecting data and providing input, but the identification and formulation of nursing diagnoses are within the scope of practice of the RN.