The healthcare provider prescribed ear drops for a 5-year-old girl with otitis externa. Which technique should the practical nurse (PN) advise the mother to use when administering the ear drops?

A. Report the situation to the nursing supervisor or peer review committee: Formal reporting is generally reserved for repeated or severe breaches of professional conduct. Immediate, low-risk interventions can be attempted first to correct behavior without escalating.

B. Determine if the conversation was overheard by the clients: While awareness of potential client exposure is helpful, it does not directly address or correct the unprofessional behavior in real time.

C. Suggest going to the nurses' lounge if she needs to discuss these topics: Redirecting the PN to a private area for personal conversations addresses the issue promptly and maintains client confidentiality and professionalism. This approach is practical, respectful, and prevents further exposure to clients and visitors.

D. Ask the PN to lower her voice when visitors walk by: Lowering the voice may reduce audibility temporarily but does not fully prevent exposure or reinforce professional boundaries. A private location is a more effective solution.

A. Irrigate the infected area with medicated solution after applying sterile gloves: Irrigation is not an appropriate method for administering nystatin in infants because it poses a risk of aspiration and does not ensure adequate contact of the medication with the mucosal surfaces.

B. Measure the prescribed amount of solution into the infant's bottle: Mixing nystatin with formula or milk dilutes the medication and reduces its antifungal effectiveness. The drug must directly contact the affected mucosa to eliminate fungal organisms effectively.

C. Draw up the medication in a needle-less syringe which the infant can suck: Allowing the infant to suck the medication does not ensure even distribution across the infected mucosal surfaces, which limits therapeutic effectiveness and may result in incomplete treatment.

D. Use a gloved finger to rub the suspension over the infected area: Applying nystatin directly with a gloved finger ensures the medication coats all affected areas of the gums, tongue, and buccal mucosa. This method maximizes local antifungal action and minimizes systemic absorption risk in infants.