EAR CARE PROCEDURE FOR COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES
EAR CARE PROCEDURE FOR COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES
EAR CARE PROCEDURE FOR COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES
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• If hard, impacted wax is identified, advise the use of olive oil drops for 5 days<br />
and reassess after this time (avoid extra virgin olive oil). Instill one to two<br />
drops, twice a day for five to seven days and then re-assess<br />
• If soft wax is present and risk assessment (Appendix 1) does not indicate<br />
any contraindications then ear / ears may be irrigated<br />
<strong>EAR</strong> IRRIGATION<br />
Ear irrigation must only be undertaken using the propulse electric ear irrigator<br />
provided by the PCT. Syringes must not be used to irrigate ears.<br />
Do not irrigate ear if any of the following contraindications are noted:<br />
• The patient has previously experienced complications following ear irrigation<br />
in the past<br />
• There is a history of middle ear infection in the past 6 weeks<br />
• The patient has undergone any ear surgery (excluding grommets that have<br />
extruded at least 18 months previously and the patient has been discharged<br />
from Ear, Nose and Throat services)<br />
• The patient has a perforation or there is a history of a mucous discharge in<br />
the last year<br />
• The patient has a cleft palate (whether repaired or not)<br />
• Acute otitis externa with pain and tenderness of the pinna is noted<br />
• Patient is currently taking anticoagulant therapy<br />
• A patient who has hearing only in one ear if it is the ear to be treated, as<br />
there is a remote chance that irrigation may cause permanent deafness<br />
• Acute undiagnosed hearing loss that is not related to the accumulation of ear<br />
wax<br />
• There is insufficient light<br />
Equipment Required<br />
• Otoscope<br />
• Speculae - single use items only after the 1 st April 2007<br />
Propulse electric irrigator and other equipment (cleaned in<br />
accordance with this policy – see page 12)<br />
• Propulse electronic ear syringe cleaning procedure<br />
• Jug<br />
• Bath thermometer<br />
• Trough / Receiver<br />
• Tissues<br />
• Clean towel<br />
• Protective clothing<br />
<strong>PROCEDURE</strong><br />
Verbally check the identity of the patient by<br />
asking for full mane and date of birth.<br />
Check with carer/family if not able to<br />
confirm identity<br />
To confirm identity<br />
RATIONALE<br />
<strong>EAR</strong> <strong>CARE</strong> <strong>PROCEDURE</strong><br />
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