What it means
The gas the body takes in with each breath and carries in the blood on hemoglobinHEE-muh-gloh-binThe iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, and the blood test that measures it.hem/o bloodglobin proteinFull entry . Room air is about 21% oxygen. When a client cannot get enough, the provider orders supplemental oxygen, given through a nasal cannula, a mask or other devices, at a set flow in liters per minute or a set percent. Because it is a medicine, it needs an order, except in an emergency.
For the nurse
Check the order for the device, the flow and the target saturationsach-uh-RAY-shunHow full something is; in nursing, usually the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is carrying oxygen.Full entry , and watch the client's breathing, color and mental status as well as the number. Oxygen makes fire burn faster: no smoking or open flames near it, and keep sparks and some oil-based products away. Check the skin under tubing and masks, especially behind the ears and on the nose.
In a chart
"Oxygen 2 L/min via nasal cannula; SpO2 96%."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | O2; FiO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen); L/min (liters per minute) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | oxígeno |
| Also written | O2, O₂ |
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.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to move air out of the lungs.
oxygenation
The process of getting oxygen into the blood and delivering it to the body's tissues.
hypoxia
A lower than normal level of oxygen in the body's tissues.
hypoxemia
A level of oxygen in the blood below normal.