Ensuring Oxygen Safety

What would the nurse do first when preparing to begin oxygen therapy for a patient? A. Educate the NAP about the oxygen orders. B. Review the medical prescription for delivery method and flow rate. C. Place a "No Smoking" sign outside of the hospital room. D. Ensure that suction equipment is present in the room.

B. Review the medical prescription for delivery method and flow rate. Rationale: The nurse's initial action when preparing to begin oxygen therapy would be to review the delivery method and flow rate specified on the medical order. The NAP is not able to complete oxygen orders. Smoking is not permitted inside hospitals. This sign would need to be put up at the patient's home. Suction equipment is not needed for oxygen therapy.

Which statement by the patient would indicate that he or she understands the safe use of oxygen? A. "The nurse told me that my oxygen saturation must be maintained at 85% or above." B. "I know that oxygen is a medication I can adjust whenever I need to." C. "I'll alert the nurse immediately if I have any increased difficulty breathing." D. "I often experience difficulty breathing for no apparent reason, but that is expected."

C. "I'll alert the nurse immediately if I have any increased difficulty breathing." Rationale: The patient should let the nurse know without delay if he or she has increased difficulty breathing. Oxygen saturation should be 90% or higher in a patient on oxygen, although the level may vary depending on the patient's situation and medical history. Oxygen is considered to be a medication, but the patient may not adjust it himself or herself. A health care provider must write an order for initiation of oxygen therapy and for any change in oxygen administration thereafter. The patient should not experience difficulty breathing for no reason; this complaint would need to be reported to the nurse or to the provider.

When preparing the patient's environment for safe oxygen therapy, which intervention is a priority to minimize the patient's risk for injury? A. Place appropriate signage to alert staff and visitors to the presence of oxygen in the patient's room. B. Instruct nursing assistive personnel (NAP) to immediately correct or report safety hazards. C. Inspect all electrical equipment in the patient's room for the presence of safety-check tags. D. Ensure that the patient receives the prescribed amount of oxygen via the appropriate method.

C. Inspect all electrical equipment in the patient's room for the presence of safety- check tags. Rationale: Inspecting electrical equipment would take priority among the other interventions in providing environmental safety. Placing appropriate signage to alert others to the presence of oxygen and instructing the NAP to immediately correct or report safety hazards do not take priority regarding environmental safety. Ensuring the patient receives the prescribed amount of oxygen does not pertain to environmental safety.

When a patient is receiving oxygen at home, which instruction to the family would help them understand how to use the oxygen safely? A. Increase the oxygen level as needed for the patient's comfort. B. Store extra oxygen cylinders horizontally. C. Place a "No Smoking" sign at the entrance to the house. D. Keep oxygen 5 feet (about 1.5 meters) away from anything that could generate a spark.

C. Place a "No Smoking" sign at the entrance of the house. Rationale: "No Smoking" signs should be placed throughout the house as well as at the entrance. Oxygen may not be increased based on the patient's comfort. Extra cylinders should be stored vertically. Keep oxygen at least 10 feet (about 3 meters) away from anything that could generate a spark.

What would the nurse do first when preparing to educate the patient about safe administration of oxygen therapy at home? A. Evaluate the patient's understanding of the combustible nature of oxygen. B. Arrange for a capable family member to be present during the initial discussion. C. Collect written information to present to the patient as supplemental instructional materials. D. Assess the patient's emotional readiness and physical ability to provide autonomous care.

D. Assess the patient's emotional readiness and physical ability to provide autonomous care. Rationale: The nurse would first assess the patient's emotional readiness and physical ability to provide self-care, since these attributes are necessary in order to teach a patient effectively about oxygen administration. Information about oxygen's combustibility will be provided during patient education. The nurse might or might not need to arrange for a capable family member to be present during the initial discussion. The patient may be entirely capable of handling the oxygen equipment himself or herself. Although written information is a part of patient education, the nurse must first assess the patient's emotional readiness and physical ability to provide self-care.