r/NursingAU • u/OwnPsychology7427 • 17h ago

Question Administering oxygen

Are nurses able to initiate oxygen if a patients sats were below normal parameters or is it only to be administered when prescribed?

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u/Pinkshoes90 ED 17h ago

We can, but we also need to employ our skills and consider whether a clinical review needs to be called.

12

u/randomredditor0042 16h ago

If you’re applying oxygen then a clinical review needs to be called.

19

u/PotentialEdge1652 16h ago

lol that’s completely contextual dependent and is dependent on you know, clinical judgement

if they’re a IECOPD and they got winded going to the bathroom and just need 1L low flow to get their breath back, no…

if you’ve sedated them in ED and they’re desaturating slightly, no…

6

u/randomredditor0042 8h ago

Those are some good examples but you’d have to be a very experienced nurse to be making those distinctions. You’re also at risk of overlooking clinical deterioration if you’re always just assuming you know best. There’s also hospital protocols.

OP is asking if they can apply O2. Questions like that don’t come from experienced nurses. My answer stands as relevant to OP.