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

accordance with the Trust's oxygenguidelineThe prescription will incorporate an initialstarting dose (i.e. delivery device and flowrate)The administration of oxygen should berecorded at every drug round ether on thedrug chart or the JAC EPMA systemOnce oxygen is in situ the nurse will monitorobservations in line with Trust policy. Allpatients should have their oxygen saturationobserved for at least 5 minutes after startingoxygen therapy.Oxygen flow rate should be recordedalongside the oxygen saturation on thebedside observation chartOxygen saturations must always beinterpreted alongside the patient's clinicalstatus incorporating the early warning score.if the patient falls outside of the targetsaturation range the oxygen therapy will beadjusted accordingly. the saturationsshould be monitored for at least 5 minutesafter any increase or decrease in oxygendose to ensure that the patient achieves thedesired saturation range.Saturations higher than target specified‣ Step down oxygen therapy as perguidance for delivery‣ Consider discontinuation pf oxygentherapyCertain groups of patients are at risk ofhyperoxaemia, particularly patients withCOPD.To provide the nurses with guidance for theappropriate starting point for oxygendelivery system and flow rateTo ensure that the patient is receivingoxygen and that oxygen saturation is withinthe target rangeto identify if oxygen is maintaining the targetsaturation or if an increase or decrease inoxygen therapy is requiredTo provide an accurate record and allowtrends in oxygen therapy and saturationlevels to be identifiedTo maintain the saturation in the desiredrangeThe patient will require weaning down forcurrent oxygen delivery system. SeeAppendix e.The patient's clinical condition may haveimproved negating the need forsupplementary oxygenSaturations lower than target specified‣ Check all elements of oxygen deliverysystem for faults or errors.‣ Step up oxygen therapy as perprotocols in Appendix e. Any suddenfall in oxygen saturation should lead toclinical evaluation and inmost casesmeasurement of blood gases.‣ Monitor Early Warning Score andrespiratory rate for further clinical signsof deterioration‣ Check and ensure that the patient isPolicy for the prescription, administrationand monitoring of emergency oxygen in adultsPage 8 of 34In most instances a fall in oxygen saturationis due to deterioration of the patient,however, equipment faults should bechecked for.To assess the patient's response to oxygenincrease, and ensure that PaCO 2 has notrisen to an unacceptable level, or pHdropped to an unacceptable level and toscreen for cause of deteriorating oxygenlevelPatient safetyMeasurements of oxygen saturations are