Word parts
What it means
The most common way to give low-flow oxygenOK-sih-jenA gas in the air that every cell needs, also given as a medicine at higher amounts than room air.Full entry . The tubing loops over the ears and the two prongs rest just inside the nose. It is usually run at 1 to 6 liters per minute, which gives roughly 24% to 44% oxygen. The client can talk and eat while wearing it. A high-flow nasal cannula is a separate device that warms and moistens oxygen at much higher flows.
For the nurse
Check that the prongs are in the nostrils and the flow meter is set to the order. Look behind the ears and at the nostrils for skin breakdown and pad the tubing if needed. Flows above about 4 L/min can dry the nose, so a humidifier may be added.
In a chart
"O2 at 2 L/min via nasal cannula; SpO2 94%; no redness behind ears."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | NC |
|---|---|
| Spanish | cánula nasal |
| Also written | nasal cannulas, nasal cannulae |
Related terms
pulse oximetry
A painless test that uses light through a finger, toe or earlobe to estimate how much oxygen the blood is carrying.
oxygen
A gas in the air that every cell needs, also given as a medicine at higher amounts than room air.
nasal
Having to do with the nose.
cannula
A thin tube placed into the body or a body opening to deliver or remove fluid or air.