A nurse is administering ear drops to a young child. Which is the correct technique for positioning the pinna?

NORCET 10 Prelims-2026

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 10 Prelims-2026

Explanation

The correct technique for administering ear drops to a child younger than 3 years is to pull the pinna downward and backward.
This maneuver straightens the external auditory canal, which is more horizontal and curved in this age group.
Straightening the canal ensures that the medication flows down to the tympanic membrane and is not blocked by the canal's curvature.

Option A: This option is incomplete. Simply inserting the drop without proper pinna positioning will lead to ineffective medication delivery, as the drug may not bypass the canal's natural curve.
Option C: This describes patient communication and education, not the physical procedure of administering the medication. While important for gaining cooperation, it does not answer the question about technique.
Option D: This describes an incorrect post-procedure action. Turning the head immediately would cause the medication to drain out. The patient should remain with the affected ear up for 5-10 minutes.

Visual 1: Diagram - Side-by-side illustration showing the correct pinna-pull technique for a child under 3 (down and back) versus an adult (up and back). This visual would clarify the anatomical difference.
Visual 2: Flowchart - A simple flowchart showing the steps for ear drop administration: 1. Position patient -> 2. Pull pinna (based on age) -> 3. Instill drops -> 4. Maintain position for 5-10 mins.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Administration of Otic Medications in Pediatrics to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Correct administration technique is essential for medication efficacy. Improper technique can lead to treatment failure, especially in cases of otitis media or externa.
Using age-appropriate techniques demonstrates nursing competence and improves patient safety and comfort. Instilling cold drops can cause vertigo or nausea, so they should be warmed to room temperature first.
What if? If the patient were a 10-year-old child, the correct technique would be to pull the pinna upward and backward, the same as for an adult, because the ear canal has matured.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core procedure being tested: administering ear drops.
Next, scan the stem for the key patient characteristic. Here, it is 'young child'.
Recall the specific anatomical and procedural differences based on patient age. For ear drops, the rule changes at age 3.
Since 'young child' implies an age under 3, recall the 'down and back' rule for pulling the pinna.
Evaluate the options. Option B directly matches the correct procedure. Options A, C, and D describe incorrect or irrelevant actions.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Administration of Otic Medications in Pediatrics
Stem keywords: administering ear drops, young child, pinna, technique
Lead-in keywords: correct technique
Clinical cues: Patient age ('young child') is the critical factor determining the correct procedure.

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