Question

To ensure the safe use of oxygen in the home by a patient, which of the following teaching points does the nurse include? (Select all that apply) [27]

1. Smoking is prohibited around oxygen
2. Demonstrate how to adjust the oxygen flow rate based on patient symptoms
3. Do not use electrical equipment around oxygen
4. Special precautions may be required when traveling with oxygen

Answer 1

To ensure safe oxygen usage at home, the nurse should teach about prohibition of smoking around oxygen, not adjusting oxygen flow rate without medical guidance, using electrical equipment cautiously, and taking precautions when traveling. Administering 100% oxygen aids in treating carbon monoxide poisoning by displacing CO from hemoglobin, while carbon dioxide cannot be used as it is a waste product.

Step-by-step explanation:

Safe Use of Oxygen in Home Care

To ensure the safe use of oxygen in the home by a patient, the following teaching points are included:

Administration of 100 percent oxygen is essential in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning because it helps displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, allowing normal oxygen transport to tissues. Carbon dioxide cannot be used as a substitute because it does not have the same oxygen-carrying capacity and is, in fact, a waste product of the body's metabolism that needs to be expelled.

Understanding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide (CO) binds to hemoglobin with a higher affinity than oxygen. This bond prevents oxygen from binding to hemoglobin, leading to hypoxia, a state of oxygen deprivation with symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and confusion. Administering 100% oxygen increases the partial pressureof oxygen in the blood, promoting the release of CO from hemoglobin and restoring its oxygen-carrying function

Carbon dioxide (CO2), on the other hand, is a byproduct of cellular metabolism and while it's transported in the blood in various forms for removal, increasing its concentration would not alleviate CO poisoning. In fact, it would exacerbate the problem by adding to the body's metabolic waste that must be eliminated. Therefore, administering pure carbon dioxide to a patient would be harmful and ineffective for treating CO poisoning.

Oxygen-enriched air is used medically for patients suffering from conditions like shock or pneumonia that compromise oxygen delivery, and is crucial for energy homeostasis. Moreover, safety measures such as using carbon monoxide detectors and ensuring proper ventilation are crucial in preventing CO poisoning.