The home care nurse is caring for a patient who has severe COPD and home oxygen therapy. The patient tells the nurse that she feels much better after increasing the oxygen flowmeter from 2 L to 5 L/min
The patient's pulse oximetry is 98%. What is the priority action of the nurse?
a.
Reduce the oxygen flow rate until the patient's pulse oximetry value is 90% to 92%.
b.
Inform the patient's physician and obtain an order for oxygen at 5 L/min.
c.
Document the intervention and findings in the patient's medical record.
d.
Listen to the patient's lung fields and reinforce pursed-lip breathing techniques.
ANS: A
The COPD patient should have a pulse oximetry value of approximately 90% to 92% to optimize oxygenation of tissues. High-flow oxygen may lead to respiratory suppression caused by loss of the patient's drive to breathe, so the oxygen flow rate should be kept at 2 L/min whenever possible. The nurse should reduce the oxygen flow rate until the patient's pulse oximetry is 90% to 92% and educate the patient about oxygen therapy for COPD.
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