Oxygen and Respiratory Assistance Flashcards
6 cards from real PCT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Oxygen and Respiratory Assistance flashcards as text
A nasal cannula delivers oxygen at flow rates of:
Answer: 1-6 liters per minute
Nasal cannulas deliver low-flow oxygen at 1-6 L/min, providing approximately 24-44% FiO2 depending on the flow rate.
Which safety precaution is essential when oxygen is in use?
Answer: Post 'No Smoking' signs and remove open flames from the area
Oxygen supports combustion and makes fires burn faster and hotter, so all ignition sources must be eliminated from the area.
When suctioning a patient's airway, the PCT should apply suction for no longer than:
Answer: 10-15 seconds
Suctioning removes air along with secretions, so limiting each pass to 10-15 seconds prevents hypoxia and mucosal trauma.
Deep breathing and coughing exercises are important for post-operative patients because they:
Answer: Prevent atelectasis and promote lung expansion
Post-surgical patients breathe shallowly due to pain, which can cause alveolar collapse (atelectasis). Deep breathing and coughing expand the lungs and clear secretions.
The PCT notices that the oxygen tubing has become disconnected from the wall outlet. The FIRST action should be:
Answer: Reconnect the tubing immediately
Immediate reconnection restores oxygen delivery to the patient, preventing desaturation and hypoxia.
Incentive spirometry is used to:
Answer: Encourage deep breathing and prevent pulmonary complications
The incentive spirometer provides visual feedback as the patient inhales deeply, encouraging sustained maximal inspiration to prevent atelectasis.