For a child undergoing myringotomy and tube placement, what should the nurse include in discharge teaching?

In the context of post-operative care following myringotomy and tube placement, it is crucial to educate the family on protecting the child's ears while also allowing for some normal activities as appropriate. Inserting earplugs during the child's bath is a protective measure that can help prevent water from entering the ears. This is important because the presence of ear tubes can create a direct pathway from the external ear to the middle ear, which could lead to complications such as infection if water gets into the middle ear.

While swimming can become a regular activity after some time has passed and the healthcare provider gives the green light, it is typically recommended to avoid completely immersing the ears in water until healing is confirmed. Therefore, careful precautions during activities like bathing are emphasized to ensure the well-being of the child immediately following the procedure.

The other options suggest more restrictive measures or could be misleading. Avoiding all water activities is too strict and impractical as it does not consider the gradual return to normal activities. Limiting physical activity for two weeks may be unnecessary unless specified by the healthcare provider, as most children can resume normal activities with some modifications without significant risk. Encouraging swimming right after the procedure would not be appropriate until the ear has had adequate time to heal and the