Oxygen Therapy
Nursing Responsibilities

 

 Reviewed by Charge Nurse - Newborn
May
2004
Clinical Guidelines Back Newborn Services Home Page

Steps

Action
1 Baby has a clear airway and is suctioned as per protocol.
2 Oxygen is administered to maintain SpO2 as per standing orders. Alarm limits are set accordingly.
3 SpO2 lead position should be changed every four hours.
4

Oxygen level is checked and documented (including amount of supplemental oxygen and SpO2 levels):

  • at nursing handover (beginning of each shift)

  • hourly if baby on CPAP or ventilated

  • 2 - 3 hourly if baby receiving LF O2 / incubator O2

NB:  on infants where O2 levels require frequent alteration, check more frequently (e.g. on returning from meal break)
5 Medical staff are notified if a baby’s oxygen requirement increases consistently by 10% or more.
6

An oxygen analyser, calibrated at the beginning of each shift, is used when oxygen is administered via:

  • CPAP

  • Ventilator

  • Incubator
7

Oxygen analyser is calibrated to:

  • air if baby receiving <60% O2

  • 100% O2 if baby receiving >60% O2
8 Humidification appropriate to oxygen delivery is provided at all times



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