Respiratory: Oxygen therapy
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Transcript
Oxygen therapy is the delivery of extra oxygen to those with conditions that cause hypoxia, which is when there is not enough oxygen to meet the needs of the body.
This includes clients with various diseases that interfere with the lungs’ ability to properly absorb oxygen from the inhaled air like pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and sleep apnea as well as blood problems like anemia where the blood doesn't carry enough oxygen and heart problems like heart failure where the heart has trouble pumping blood around the body.
Now, oxygen is considered a medication so, as a nursing assistant, you will provide care for clients receiving oxygen therapy.
However, it’s a nurse’s or respiratory therapist’s task to start and maintain the oxygen therapy, and a healthcare provider will be the one to order when and how to administer supplemental oxygen.
Okay, now, an oxygen setup consists of an oxygen source and a delivery device. There are several sources for oxygen therapy, including a wall outlet, an oxygen tank, a liquid oxygen system, and an oxygen concentrator.
With a wall outlet, oxygen is delivered into each client’s room from a central supply. Next, an oxygen tank is filled with oxygen under pressure and is typically portable, so it can be carried along as the client moves.
However, this should be moved very carefully; if the tank tips over and the valve breaks open, pressurized oxygen can burst out forcefully and result in severe trauma.
Oxygen tanks also have a gauge that shows how much oxygen is left. There are also liquid oxygen systems that consist of a portable component which can be worn over the shoulder.
The portable component needs to be filled by a large reservoir that is kept at home. Finally, oxygen concentrators pull in air from the atmosphere and selectively remove nitrogen to deliver 100% oxygen.
These devices need a power supply and are very easy to use because they have an on-off switch.
They are usually preferred at home or in healthcare facilities for clients who only need oxygen therapy every now and then rather than on a regular basis.
All oxygen sources are attached to a flow meter that indicates the flow rate, or the liters of oxygen administered per minute. This usually falls somewhere between 1 and 15 liters per minute.
Summary
Oxygen therapy is the use of oxygen as a medical treatment. It is used for clients with conditions that put them at risk for hypoxia and can be administered from different sources at the hospital, including a wall outlet, an oxygen tank, a liquid oxygen system, and an oxygen concentrator. All oxygen sources are attached to a flow meter that indicates the flow rate, usually in liters of oxygen administered per minute, which typically ranges between 1 and 15 liters per minute. A humidifier bottle is also used to prevent the oxygen from drying out the mucous membranes lining the nose and mouth. Oxygen therapy can be administered in a variety of ways including: Face mask: mask that covers the nose and mouth, delivering a high concentration of oxygen to the patient. Nasal cannula: small tube that sits under the nose and delivers a lower concentration of oxygen to the patient. Nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal airways: flexible tubes that go through the nose and up to the throat, or into the mouth and back to the throat respectively. They are used in sedated and unconscious patients to keep the airway open.