A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client with bacterial conjunctivitis of the right eye and a prescription for an antibiotic ophthalmic ointment. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

Choice A rationale Applying ophthalmic ointment in a thin line along the lower conjunctival sac ensures even distribution of the medication across the ocular surface. The nurse should move from the inner canthus to the outer canthus to prevent contamination. This technique maximizes the contact time of the antibiotic with the infected tissues. Proper administration is crucial for achieving therapeutic levels of the drug to eradicate the bacteria causing the conjunctivitis and to promote rapid healing. Choice B rationale After instilling ointment, the patient should be instructed to close their eyes gently for 1 to 2 minutes rather than keeping them open. Keeping the eyes open for 30 seconds would not allow the medication to distribute properly and might cause it to leak out. Closing the eye allows the ointment to melt with body temperature and spread across the entire conjunctiva and cornea, ensuring the medication reaches all areas colonized by the bacteria. Choice C rationale While hand hygiene is essential, using a sterile glove and an applicator is generally not required for self-administration or routine nursing care of conjunctivitis. The nurse should wash their hands thoroughly and avoid touching the tip of the ointment tube to the eye or any other surface to maintain the sterility of the remaining medication. Using a clean technique with the tube itself is the standard practice for applying ophthalmic medications in most clinical settings. Choice D rationale When cleaning secretions from an infected eye, the nurse must always wipe from the inner canthus to the outer canthus. This direction moves debris and pathogens away from the lacrimal duct and the unaffected eye, minimizing the risk of spreading the infection. Wiping from the outer to the inner canthus could push bacteria into the tear duct system or toward the bridge of the nose, potentially leading to dacryocystitis or cross-contamination of the other eye.