A nurse is preparing a 4-year-old child for discharge following a bilateral myringotomy with tympanostomy tube placement. The mother asks what to do if the tubes fall out. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give the parent?

It is not advisable for a parent to attempt to reinsert the tubes if they fall out. This could potentially cause harm to the child's ear. If the tubes fall out, the parent should call the healthcare clinic to report this. The healthcare provider can then decide on the appropriate next steps. It is not accurate to reassure the mother that the tubes will not fall out. Tympanostomy tubes are designed to fall out on their own after a certain period of time. Taking the child to an emergency department is not necessary unless there are signs of infection or other complications.