The nurse is caring for a patient one week post-surgery.
Which finding should the nurse expect to see if the surgical incision is healing properly?

The correct answer is choice D.

When administering ear drops to an adult client with an ear infection, the nurse should keep the patient in a supine position to administer the drops.

This position allows the medication to flow into the ear canal and reach the site of infection.

Choice A is not correct because it is not necessary to swab and shake the bottle before administering the drops.

Choice B is not correct because tilting the head upright would cause the medication to flow out of the ear canal instead of reaching the site of infection.

Choice C is not correct because lowering the edge of the dropper into the canal of the ear could cause injury or discomfort to the patient.

A. Placing food on the unaffected side of the mouth is appropriate for a client who has had a CVA and may have unilateral weakness. This technique helps the client chew and swallow effectively, reducing the risk of aspiration.

B. Raising the head of the bed to 80 degrees is too high and can increase the risk of choking or aspiration by making it harder for the client to control the food bolus during swallowing. A more appropriate position is raising the head of the bed to 45–60 degrees, which facilitates safe swallowing while maintaining comfort. This action requires additional teaching.

C. Positioning the head with the chin tilted slightly downward, known as the chin-tuck position, is a recommended strategy to prevent aspiration. This position helps close the airway during swallowing, reducing the risk of food or liquid entering the trachea.

D. Allowing 30 minutes of rest before feeding is appropriate because it ensures the client is not fatigued, which can compromise swallowing ability and increase the risk of aspiration.