A home health nurse is providing care to a child who has cerebral palsy and notes that the child's parent seems withdrawn. The nurse asks the parent how they are doing, and the parent begins crying and states that taking care of their child is “so hard sometimes" and they are not sure how much more stress they can take. Which of the following statements made by the nurse's the most appropriate response?

A. Warm the medication container for 10 seconds in a microwave oven prior to instillation. Using a microwave to warm ear drops is unsafe, as it can cause uneven heating and potentially burn the delicate ear structures. Instead, the medication should be warmed by holding the container in the hands for a few minutes.

B. Apply clean gloves and clean the outer ear prior to instilling drops. Wearing gloves prevents contamination, and cleaning the outer ear removes purulent drainage, ensuring the medication reaches the ear canal properly. This is an essential step in infection control and medication effectiveness.

C. Firmly push a cotton ball into the ear canal after instilling drops. Inserting a cotton ball too firmly can trap moisture and bacteria, potentially worsening the infection. If needed, a loosely placed cotton ball may be used, but it should not be forced into the canal.

D. Pull the child's ear auricle upward and outward just before instilling drops. This technique is used for adults and children over 3 years old. In a 2-year-old, the correct method is to pull the auricle downward and back to straighten the ear canal for proper medication administration.

A. Print out a copy of the asthma action plan and thoroughly review it with the child and the school nurse prior to discharge. While an asthma action plan is essential, it is not sufficient if the parent is not actively engaged. The parent also needs education and support to properly manage the child's condition at home.

B. Write out a detailed schedule of the child's medications and a list of their healthcare providers’ addresses and phone numbers in case they should need it. Providing a medication schedule is helpful, but it does not address the root issue—parental disengagement. Simply handing out information does not ensure the parent understands or feels empowered to manage the child's asthma.

C. Empower the child's parent to help manage the asthma by offering comprehensive education on the condition, treatment plan, and managing potential complications at home. Parental education and engagement are crucial for managing uncontrolled asthma. Offering clear explanations, demonstrating medication use (such as inhalers and spacers), and discussing signs of worsening asthma can help the parent feel more confident and involved in their child’s care.

D. Contact child protective services to intervene in the family since the child's parent does not seem adequately prepared to manage the client's illness at home. CPS involvement is not appropriate unless there are signs of medical neglect (e.g., refusal to seek care, persistent non-adherence). In this case, the best first step is education and support to encourage parental involvement.