Is earwax removal an emergency?

Specialties Emergency

Published

What is an emergency? Is an overdue ear irrigation one? How about bedbug bites from a sleepover? A stiff neck from sleeping wrong? A child's fever, who got started on antibiotics prescribed by PCP this morning and went away after Tylenol given prior to arrival.

Do the people with these types of 'emergencies' actually have co-pays? And, what are health classes teaching in the schools these days?

While an emergency, trapped wax can cause difficulty hearing, or get stuck in the ear causing redness/irritation. People come in rather often to my Urgent care for ear wax removal, and I am usually the one who gets to do it. it's actually a fun procedure.

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Specializes in Adult Primary Care.

I do a lot of wax removal in my office, and I actually enjoy it!!! Instant gratification for the patient!

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I do a lot of wax removal in my office, and I actually enjoy it!!! Instant gratification for the patient!

Of course. But this issue has everything to do with the setting and nothing to do with earwax other than the fact that it's largely a non-urgent (and certainly non-emergent) problem in the vast majority of cases. In fairness, yes, earwax removal is a procedure that generally involves the opportunity to help someone feel signifcantly better - - but in the ED that's lost on the fact that the same RN is responsible for patients who must have help urgently or emergently. Add in the patient satisfaction rigamarole and I personally feel it becomes an ethical issue rather quickly.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Pretty sure the earwax thing was a rhetorical question. :) Uncomfortable? Yes. Life threatening? Not in general.

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Specializes in School nursing.
What are these health classes of which you speak?

I teach one! Actually, I teach a three day class seminar I call "College Health 101" where I talk to high school seniors about their health care needs and how to transition handling them on their own (including discussion of insurance). We do talk about emergencies and use of the college health center vs the ER.

But...as a school nurse, I will agree with lack of coping skills. I have students (sent to me telling me they have had a headache that started 5 minutes ago and they need medicine for it "now."

But I've also seen some massive ear wax situations. I refer to PCP, but I have had a parent take their kid to the ER after a PCP visit and clean-up didn't improve child's situation and the pain level was severe.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I too am a school nurse and I cringe when I call a parent for a heads up call that their child is showing whatever symptoms and they should follow up with their pcp and the parent says "I'll be there - I'll take them to the hospital." I will tell them that the ER really isn't necessary - they can go to an urgent care or one of those doc in a box type places but it falls on deaf ears. The ER ends up seeing the kid.

I get equally amazed when the child ends up coming back to me with ER paperwork from their incredibly minor injury. The twisted ankle that they came and iced in my office for literally 4 minutes (over their boot, despite me telling them to take it off) before walking out my office door like nothing ever happened and never returning for more ice or a re-eval. (bonus points if i get a nasty call from the parent!)

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I don't know about others, but earwax issues can be extremely problematic. I am highly 'ear sensitive'. If an ear plugs up, I need to get it unplugged ASAP.

I mean dizziness where the room is spinning so bad, I hold on to the wall. Nausea sometimes with projectile vomiting. Blinding headache if it continues too long.

I know I panic and that many others will just do the peroxide/debrox themselves without any problem. But then I fear that I won't be able to get it unplugged myself.

Since this is so problematic for you, you might consider doing daily ear hygiene. That's what we do in my house. You can look up several articles on the subject. I don't want to describe the process here as I don't want to give medical advice against TOS.

Hppy

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Minimal at BEST. Society is very "me, me, me" and would rather someone else fix his/her problem than even attempt self-help.

How many times have we heard a patient's c/c and asked him if he tried anything OTC before coming? How many times is that answer, "Well, I don't like to take anything."

SMH. What exactly are you expecting us to do? Healing interpretive dance? Laying of hands? Sacrifice a goat?

I'd love to have Davey see this! Maybe he could do a cool cartoon!

Hppy

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
I do a lot of wax removal in my office, and I actually enjoy it!!! Instant gratification for the patient!

Yes! Like suctioning a goober-y trach!

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
I teach one! Actually, I teach a three day class seminar I call "College Health 101" where I talk to high school seniors about their health care needs and how to transition handling them on their own (including discussion of insurance). We do talk about emergencies and use of the college health center vs the ER.

This is a fantastic thing! I wish all schools did this!

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.
Yes! Like suctioning a goober-y trach!

I could have gone all day with out reading this. Blech, I hate secretions and neglected feet ((shudder)).

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
I teach one! Actually, I teach a three day class seminar I call "College Health 101" where I talk to high school seniors about their health care needs and how to transition handling them on their own (including discussion of insurance). We do talk about emergencies and use of the college health center vs the ER.

But...as a school nurse, I will agree with lack of coping skills. I have students (sent to me telling me they have had a headache that started 5 minutes ago and they need medicine for it "now."

But I've also seen some massive ear wax situations. I refer to PCP, but I have had a parent take their kid to the ER after a PCP visit and clean-up didn't improve child's situation and the pain level was severe.

College Health 101 sounds like a fantastic idea. I work in college health and some of the students really have a hard time navigating their own health needs for the first time without a parent. A little preparation would take a lot of the stress out of it for them.

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