RN Exam Practice
Pharmacological and Parenteral TherapiesQuestion 2203 of 2368

A nurse has instilled eye drops into a client's eye. Which action should the nurse take next?

  1. Ask the client to rub the eye gently to spread the medication
  2. Ask the client to blink rapidly for one minute
  3. Press on the outer canthus and ask the client to look down
  4. Ask the client to close the eye and apply gentle pressure to the inner canthus
Show answer

Correct answer: Ask the client to close the eye and apply gentle pressure to the inner canthus

Gentle pressure on the inner canthus keeps the medication from entering the lacrimal duct and causing a possible systemic reaction. The client should not rub the eye.

Source: Nursing Skills, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Administration of Medications Via Other Routes: Eye Drops. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026