After instilling mineral oil drops in the right ear, what is the correct next step for the bilateral left-ear administration?

After instilling mineral oil drops in the right ear, what is the correct next step for the bilateral left-ear administration?

• A. Instill the left ear drops after waiting 1 hour.
• B. Do not invert the patient and give both at once.
• C. Instill the left ear drops after waiting 10 minutes.
• D. Instill the left ear drops immediately.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is to give ear drops to each ear one at a time and allow a short pause between sides so the first dose can stay in place and the medication can begin to work before the second ear is dosed. Mineral oil is thick and can flow or leak if you move too quickly, so waiting a bit helps the oil settle in the canal and prevents cross-contamination when you switch ears. About ten minutes gives enough time for the oil to coat the canal and soften any wax, making the second administration more effective. Instilling immediately or waiting too long (like an hour) isn’t appropriate because it wouldn’t promote proper retention of the first drop or the timely start of treatment in the second ear. Therefore, the correct next step is to wait about ten minutes before instilling the drops in the left ear.

The main idea here is to give ear drops to each ear one at a time and allow a short pause between sides so the first dose can stay in place and the medication can begin to work before the second ear is dosed. Mineral oil is thick and can flow or leak if you move too quickly, so waiting a bit helps the oil settle in the canal and prevents cross-contamination when you switch ears. About ten minutes gives enough time for the oil to coat the canal and soften any wax, making the second administration more effective. Instilling immediately or waiting too long (like an hour) isn’t appropriate because it wouldn’t promote proper retention of the first drop or the timely start of treatment in the second ear. Therefore, the correct next step is to wait about ten minutes before instilling the drops in the left ear.