A nurse is caring for a client who has been ordered oxygen using a nasal cannula. What care should the nurse take when caring for this client?

Question

A) Clean the cannula and examine the client's nares every hour.
B) Set the oxygen flow rate to not less than 6 liters per minute (LPM).
C) Guide the elastic strap over the top of the client's head.
D) Attach the humidifier to the flow meter.

Answer 1

D
Feedback:
The nurse should attach the humidifier to the flow meter when caring for the client who has been ordered oxygen using a nasal cannula; this prevents the nasal mucosa from drying. The nurse should clean the cannula and examine the client's nares at least every 8 hours and not every hour. The flow rate via the cannula should not exceed 6 LPM, whereas the flow rate via the partial rebreathing mask should not be less than 6 LPM. The nurse should adjust the tubing of the cannula behind the client's ear. The nurse should guide the elastic strap of the simple mask over the top of the client's head.