A nurse is caring for a client who is being treated for several intractable wounds. The client has been put on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). How could the nurse avoid oxygen toxicity for this client?

Question

A) By delivering 100% oxygen at two times normal atmospheric pressure
B) By reducing the treatment time from 90 minutes to 30 minutes
C) By providing brief periods of breathing room air
D) By performing the therapy once every 2 weeks

Answer 1

C
Feedback:
The nurse can prevent oxygen toxicity from occurring in a client on HBOT by providing the client with brief periods of breathing room air. HBOT consists of the delivery of 100% oxygen at three times the normal atmospheric pressure within an airtight chamber. Treatments, which last ~90 minutes are repeated over days, weeks, or months of therapy. Reducing the amount of time oxygen is delivered over the atmospheric pressure, reducing the treatment time, or performing the therapy once in 2 weeks would not help to prevent oxygen toxicity in a client.