Oxygen Inhalation

Week 2 / January 24, 2022

Topic Outline
1 Definition
2 Purposes
3 Principles
4 Equipment
5 Procedure and rationale

Definition
- Involves breathing O2 in pressurized chamber / tube Prescribed face mask of Padding for elastic band
- Allows lungs to gather up to 3x more O2 than by appropriate size
breathing O2 at normal air pressure
- Extra O2 moves through blood and to organs and body
tissues
- Can be administered by cannula, face mask, face tent
Purposes
Nasal cannula
- Deliver relatively low conc. Of O2 when only minimal
O2 support is required
- Allow uninterrupted delivery of O2 while client ingest Tent
food / fluids Oxygen supply w/ flow meter Humidifier w/ distilled water
Face mask & adapter or tap water
- Provide moderate O2 support and higher conc. Of O2
and/or humidity than provided by cannula
Tent
- Provide high humidity
- Provide O2 when mask is poorly tolerated
- Provide high flow of O2 when attached to venturi sys
Principles
- Secure and maintain airway patency
- Enhance circulation
- Avoid reverse respiratory depressants
Equipment Face tent of appropriate size
Nasal cannula
Oxygen supply w/ flow meter Humidifier w/ distilled water /
and adapter tap water acc to agency
protocol

Procedure and rationale

Nasal cannula and tubing
Padding for elastic band
Face mask
Oxygen w/ flow meter and Humidifier w/ distilled water
adapter or tap water acc to agency
protocol
1) Bring necessary equipment to bedside stand / overbed table
a. Save time and energy
2) Explain procedure to pt and review safety precautions
necessary when oxygen is in use. Place “no smoking”
signs in appropriate areas
a. Gain pt’s cooperation and avoid combustion
b. O2 support combustion
Tape 3) Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE if indicated
a. Deter spread of microorganisms
4) Identify pt
a. Be sure to have right pt
5) Close curtains around bed and close door to room if
possible
a. Maintain privacy
Nasal cannula
6) Connect nasal cannula to O2 setup w/ humidification if
one is use. Adjust flow rate as ordered by physician.
Check O2 is flowing out of prongs
a. O2 forced through water reservoir is
humidified before it is delivered to pt,
preventing dehydration of mucous membranes
b. Low-flow O2 does not require humidification
7) Place prongs in pt’s nostrils. Place tubing over and
behind each air w/ adjuster comfortably under chin.
Tubing may be placed around pt’s head w/ adjuster at
back / base of head. Place gauze at ear beneath tubing as
necessary
a. Correct placement of prongs and fastener
facilitates O2 administration and pt comfort
8) Place gauze pads at ear beneath tubing and adjust fit of
cannula as necessary. Tubing should be snug but not
tight against skin
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 a. Pads reduce irritation and pressure and protect a. Documentation ensures continuity of care and
skin ongoing assessment record
9) Encourage pt to breathe through nose, w/ mouth close
a. Nose breathing provides optimal delivery of
O2 to pt
10) Remove and clean cannula and assess nares at least
every 8 hrs or acc to agency recommendations. Check
nares for evidence of irritation / bleeding
a. Continued presence of cannula causes irritation
and dryness of mucous membranes
b. Water-soluble lubricants counteract drying
effects of O2
Face mask
11) Attach face mask to O2 source (w/ humidification for
specific mask). Start flow of O2 at specified rate. For
mask w/ reservoir, be sure to allow O2 to fill bag before
proceeding to next step
a. O2 forced through water reservoir is
humidified before it is delivered to pt, thus
preventing dehydration of mucous membranes
b. Reservoir bag must be inflated w/ O2 bc bag is
source of O2 supply for pt
12) Position face mask over pt’s nose and mouth. Adjust
elastic strap so that mask fits snugly but comfortably on
face. Adjust flow rate to prescribed rate
a. Loose / poorly fitting mask result in O2 loss
and decreased therapeutic value
b. Masks cause feeling of suffocation and pt
needs frequent attention & reassurance
13) Use gauze pad under elastic strap at pressure points to
reduce irritation to ears and scalp
a. Pads reduce irritation and pressure and protect
skin
14) Remove mask and dry skin every 2-3 hrs if O2 is
running continuously. Do not use powder around mask
a. Tight-fitting mask and moisture from
condensation can irritate skin on face
b. There is danger of inhaling powder if it is
placed on mask
Tent
15) Place tent over crib / bed. Connect humidifier to O2
source in wall and connect tent tubing to humidifier.
Adjust flow rate as ordered by physician. Check that O2
is flowing into tent
a. O2 forced through water reservoir humidified
before it is delivered to pt thus preventing
dehydration of mucous membranes
16) Turn analyzer on. Place O2 analyzer probe in tent, out of
pt’s reach
a. Analyzer give accurate reading of conc of O2
in crib / bed
17) Adjust O2 as necessary, based on sensor readings. Once
O2 levels reach prescribed amount, place pt in tent
a. Pt receive O2 once placed in tent
18) Roll small blanket like jelly roll and tuck tent edges
under blanked rolls as necessary
a. Blanket helps keep edges of tent flap from
coming up and letting O2 out
19) Encourage pt and family members to keep tent flap
closed
a. Every time tent flap opened, O2 is released
20) Frequently check bedding and pt’s pajamas for moisture
a. Large amount of humidification delivered in
O2 tent quickly makes cloth moist which
would be uncomfortable for pt
For any method
21) Reassess pt’s respiratory status including respiratory
rate, effort, lung sounds. Note any signs of respiratory
distress such as tachypnea, nasal flaring, use of accessory
muscles, dyspnea
a. Pt’s respiratory rate and pattern, color, chest
movements, so forth indicate effectiveness of
O2 therapy
22) Remove PPE if used. Perform hand hygiene
a. Deter spread of microorganisms
23) Document amount of O2 applied, respiratory rate, O2
saturation and lung sounds
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