inner ear exam by RN?

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

Does examining the inner ear with an otoscope falll within a nurses practice? (RN)

I dont ever recall learning that skill.

We do that alot at my job... residential facility for kids with behavior/psych issues.... no MD on staff...

It seems easy enough , but it is an inner structure, so should we be assessing ?

I coud be wrong, but it just strikes me as a md only type of thing.

Anybody know? thoughts?

[TazziRN, RN]

We did in the ER....not to diagnose but to assess: discharge, was accumulation, inflamed-appearing tympanum.

[starae]

I learned this skill in the assessment class of both my programs (ADN and BSN) and was actually tested on it in both. Didn't really understand what good it was since the person making a diagnosis would also have to look, but I guess we could at least report symptoms.

[queenjean]

I was taught this in my LPN course. It was not covered in my RN course. I have used this skill occasionally. When I worked in an office, I used it a lot. We would have people come in for a blood draw or some sort of nurse visit, and then say something like, "Yeah, my ear has been hurting, can you take a quick look?" I'm not so good at diagnosing; but I can tell when it is normal and when it doesn't look right. So I'd take a look and if there was any question about it, I would fit the pt in to see the practitioner.

I also use it occasionally on the floor of the hospital where I now work. Sometimes someone will develop ear pain; it's helpful to be able to say to the doc, "Hey, she developed right ear pain during the noc, I checked her ear and it doesn't look too bad, but she'd like you to assess it on rounds this morning." I feel it's just another piece of assessment--I assess alot of internal structures with the aid of equipment. The otoscope is just like a stethoscope. You use it to gather information to pull all the pieces together.

Just like listening to lung or heart sounds, though, if you don't get enough practice, you lose it.