A patient hospitalized with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is being discharged home on oxygen therapy. Which instruction should the nurse include in the discharge teaching?
a. Storage of oxygen tanks will require adequate space in the home.
b. Travel opportunities will be limited because of the use of oxygen.
c. Oxygen flow should be increased if the patient has more dyspnea.
d. Oxygen use can improve the patient's prognosis and quality of life.
ANS: D
The use of home oxygen improves quality of life and prognosis. Because increased dyspnea may be a symptom of an acute process such as pneumonia, the patient should notify the physician rather than increasing the oxygen flow rate if dyspnea becomes worse. Oxygen can be supplied using liquid, storage tanks, or concentrators, depending on individual patient circumstances. Travel is possible using portable oxygen concentrators.
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