Policy for the Prescription, Administration and Monitoring Of Oxygen ...

1. Introduction1.1. The administration of supplemental oxygen is an essential element of appropriatemanagement for a wide range of clinical conditions. Following a NPSA Rapid ResponseReport in 2009 (Ref 1), it is now mandatory for oxygen to be prescribed in all butemergency situations. Failure to administer oxygen appropriately can potentially result inserious harm tot he patient. The safe implementation of oxygen therapy with appropriatemonitoring is an integral component of the healthcare professional's role.1.2. This version supersedes any previous versions of this document.2. Purpose of this Policy/ProcedureThe aim of this policy is to ensure that:‣ All patients who require supplementary oxygen therapy receive therapy that isappropriate to their clinical condition and in line with the British Thoracic SocietyEmergency Oxygen Therapy National Guidelines (Ref 2).‣ Oxygen is prescribed according to a target saturation range. The system ofprescribing target saturation aims to achieve specific outcome rather than specifyingthe oxygen delivery method alone.‣ The multidisciplinary team will administer and monitor the patient in keeping with thetarget saturation rate.3. Scope1.1. This policy is intended for all healthcare professionals initiating, delivering andmonitoring oxygen4. Definitions / GlossaryABG Arterial blood gasNIV Non-invasive ventilationIPPV Invasive positive pressure ventilationBiPAP Bilevel positive pressure ventilationCPAP Continuous positive pressure ventilationCOPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseICU Intensive care unitHDU High dependency unitpH pHPaO 2 Arterial oxygen tensionPaCO 2 Arterial carbon dioxide tensionPtCO 2 Transcutaneous carbon dioxideHR Heart rateRR Respiratory rateFi02 Fraction of inspired oxygenSpO2 Oxygen saturations measured by pulse oximetryPolicy for the prescription, administrationand monitoring of emergency oxygen in adultsPage 3 of 34