Today our topic of discussion is General Instruction of Oxygen Administration .

General Instruction of Oxygen Administration

General Instructions

Since oxygen acts as a drug. It must be prescribed and administered in specific dose in order to avoid oxygen toxicity. The dosage of O, is started in terms of concentration and rate of flow.
When using are oxygen cylinder use a regulator and humidifiers. The purpose of the regulator is the reduce the pressure of the O, in the cylinder to a safer level. The humidifier helps to saturate the oxygen with water vapor to prevent the drying of the mucus membranes of respiratory tract .
The glass tube should be summered under the water so that oxygen is bubbled through the water.
Every water of the apparatus should be clean to preventinfection.
Use disposable nasal catheters or sterilized rubbed catheters.
Change the nasal catheters at least every 8 hours or more often .
Lubricate the nasal catheter sparingly while the O, is flowing. Then hold tip of the catheter in a glass of HO to make sure that the terminal holes are not plugged with lubricant .

During the administration of O, the valve controlling the rate of flow should not be handled if any alteration is to be made in the flow of O, first take out the catheter from the nose and then adjust the valve
Oxygen administration must never be stopped until the factors that caused hypoxia are reversed
When oxygen therapy is discontinued, it should be done gradually. The patient is weaned from dependence on oxygen by reducing the dosage and then administrating it intermittently
For all patients receiving oxygen inhalation, the temperature should be taken rectally to get an accurate record of body temperature
When the nurse leaves the patient even for a short period, she should leave a calling signal near the patient
Pay attention to conditions that can interfere with the flow of oxygen from the source to the patient. This may include kinks in the tubing loose connection and faulty humidifying apparatus. Remember that it is not unusual therapy is generally getting less oxygen than he would get under normal circumstances
To prevent the deprivation of oxygen resulting from the depletion of oxygen from the cylinder the nurse should get a new one ready at hand when the gauge shows about 1/4 level in the pressure

For fear of retrolental fibroplasia the premature babies are given uxygen inhalation only for a short period at a very low concentration
Watch the patients receiving oxygen therapy continuously to detect the early signs of oxygen toxicity .

When oxygen is administrated through the nasal catheters, the catheter is not directed distension of abdomen.
Since oxygen supports combustion, fire precautions are to be taken when the oxygen is a flow.

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