Hazards of oxygen therapy
Oxygen therapy has several safety concerns associated with its use. The most common include fire, equipment malfunction, and pressure hazards. When oxygen therapy is part of your patient's plan of care, it is your responsibility to provide education to th
O2 & Fire
When fire and high concentrations of oxygen come into contact with each other, extremely rapid burning can result. Because of this, it is important that oxygen is not used around fire or in an environment where there's a potential for sparks.
O2 & Electricity
Caution patients against using electric razors or radios when oxygen is in use. Both have the potential to cause sparks if they malfunction. Teach children receiving oxygen therapy not to play with electric or friction toys since they can also cause spark
oxygen in use" sign
In both the hospital and home settings, display an "oxygen in use" sign on the patient's door or the front door of the home to notify visitors and other family members that oxygen is in use and they must take extreme caution.
Oxygen Storage
Depending on the setting, oxygen is supplied in different ways. In inpatient settings, oxygen is usually stored in large holding tanks outside of the building and piped in to patient rooms via outlets on the wall that are located behind the patient's bed.
Before initiating oxygen therapy
Before initiating oxygen therapy, make sure all equipment is checked. The oxygen should be turned on and the flow meter and regulator checked to make sure they are functioning properly. The gauge indicating the level of oxygen in the tank should also be c
Indications for oxygen therapy
Oxygen therapy is indicated for patients who are at risk for developing hypoxia. This includes patients who are recovering from surgery and may be in pain or still sedated. It also includes patients who have a respiratory illness that causes excessive sec
Degrees/Stages of Hypoxia
The degree of hypoxia the patient is experiencing usually determines what signs and symptoms he or she will exhibit. The patient's age, general health, current disease process, and history of chronic illness also play a role in how the patient responds to
Monitoring patients receiving oxygen therapy
Assess patients receiving oxygen therapy, especially those diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), frequently for any changes in their condition. When patients with COPD receive oxygen at too high a flow rate, carbon dioxide narcosis
Goal of O2 Therapy
Since the goal of oxygen therapy is to prevent or relieve hypoxia, delivering oxygen should help prevent or resolve the manifestations of hypoxia. With effective oxygen therapy for patients who have hypoxia, vital signs and oxygen saturation should move c
O2 Assessment/Documentation
Perform a respiratory assessment along with a complete set of vital signs, including oxygen saturation indicated via pulse oximetry. After assessing your patient, also document the patient's skin color, level of consciousness, and other signs and any mani
dryness of the mucous membranes
Since oxygen tends to cause drying of the mucous membranes, it is likely that your patient will report dryness in the nose and mouth. If the flow rate is 4 L/min or more, consider humidification. Increasing the patient's fluid intake, if not contraindicat
Oxygen-therapy supplies and equipment
Initiating oxygen therapy requires several pieces of equipment. These include a flow meter, extension tubing, an oxygen-delivery device, and if the flow rate is more than 4 L/min, sterile water for humidification.
The flow meter attaches to the oxygen out
Flow Meter Parts
The flow meter consists of several basic parts:
-The two metal prongs fit into the wall outlet.
-The green collar behind the prongs twists to release the flow meter from the wall outlet, allowing it to be removed.
-The cylinder portion of the flow meter h
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To give the patient more freedom to move around, connect a piece of extension tubing to the oxygen-delivery device. One end of the tubing connects to the flow meter and the other end connects to the end of the tubing on the oxygen-delivery device.
Humidification
Depending on the flow rate prescribed, humidification might be required. This is usually accomplished by attaching a bottle of sterile water to the oxygen-delivery equipment. As the oxygen bubbles through the water, it picks up moisture and helps keep the
Preparing an oxygen cylinder for use
Oxygen is available in a variety of systems. Which system to use usually depends on the setting in which the oxygen will be delivered.
In the home setting, a compressed oxygen system is sometimes used. It is supplied in gas cylinders as a nonliquid gas an
Pieces Needed
When using the compressed oxygen system, you (or a respiratory therapist or technician) will need several pieces of equipment to prepare the cylinder for use. These include a regulator, a pressure gauge, a flow meter, a cylinder key, and an oxygen-deliver
Can the use of oxygen help resolve dyspnea?
Dyspnea is a subjective sensation of difficult or uncomfortable breathing, thus only the patient can judge whether or not oxygen use improves dyspnea. Patients with dyspnea may feel like they are having trouble breathing, even though their oxygen saturati
How is the effectiveness of oxygen therapy evaluated?
Objective measures of the effectiveness of oxygen therapy include the patient's vital signs, arterial blood gas analysis, pulmonary function tests, ECG tracings, physical examination findings, and functional status. For some conditions, such as chronic ob
Is a provider's order required to administer oxygen therapy?
Yes it is, as the administration of oxygen can have potent effects on the patient. Treat oxygen therapy as you would a medication, applying the six rights of medication administration. Check the provider's orders to verify that the patient is receiving th
How often should I replace the water in an oxygen nebulizer?
Typically, you'd replace the water in the oxygen nebulizer, which is used to deliver humidification to the patient, when the level is low or at least every 24 hours. However, be sure to follow your facility's policies and procedures for replacing the wate
Is it okay to use regular tap water in an oxygen nebulizer?
Although regular tap water can be used in a nebulizer, sterile water is usually best. Remember that particles of water are directly inspired into the patient's airway. This means that any chemicals or pollutants in regular tap water are likely to enter th
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers 100% oxygen within a pressurized chamber. Increased pressure combined with the increase in oxygen content dissolves oxygen into the blood and all other body tissues and fluid at up to 20 times the normal concentration. R
What are the signs and symptoms of oxygen toxicity?
Signs and symptoms of oxygen toxicity result from its effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and pulmonary system. CNS manifestations of oxygen toxicity include pallor, sweating, nausea, vomiting, seizures, muscle twitching, vertigo, tinnitus, halluc
Tips for oxygen therapy documentation
Documentation for oxygen therapy should include the following and any additional information pertinent to the administration of oxygen:
-the date and time oxygen therapy was initiated
-the method by which oxygen is being delivered (cannula, simple mask)
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