No. 5 To facilitate
the maintenance of a supply of oxygen to all body cells
By: Vincent Molina
Without oxygen, no man can
survive. Imagine ourselves holding
breath for a seconds, what will you feel? Maybe you might experience shortness
of breath, dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, and feeling of euphoria and
even loss of consciousness in severe cases.
Appropriate levels of oxygen are vital to support cell respiration.
Oxygen plays an important role in the energy metabolism of living organisms.
The living cell is the site of tremendous biochemical activity called
metabolism. This is the process of chemical and physical change which goes on
continually in the human body: build-up of new tissue, replacement of old
tissue, conversion of food to energy, disposal of waste materials, reproduction
- all the activities that we characterize as "life."
How does it affect in my clinical
practice and nursing responsibility?
Working as a nurse in primary
healthcare setting here in United Arab Emirates is a huge challenge on how to
deal with numbers of patients with recurrent attack of cough, colds, croups and
asthma, not to mention the obvious predisposing factors such as weather
condition and sandy environment.
Frequently appears the devastating
sand storm to the local community affecting the people and causing them to
visit the clinic for nebulization or oxygen therapy. I remembered the worst attack of our regular
asthmatic patient, 45 years old, male, approaching to emergency room holding
his chest, grasping for air with family members assisting him on both
hands. Initial vital signs reveal BP
(138/87), RR (42), PR (134), and O2 saturation of 86%. Based on the history, he received 2 puffs of
salbutamol inhaler 15 minutes prior to the clinic but no improvement noted. Oxygen is applied via a non-rebreather mask
at 15 liters per minute. Auscultation of breath sounds reveals both inspiratory
and expiratory wheezing with minimal air exchange and retraction. Another
provider started to administer albuterol and ipratropium (Atrovent) then hooked
to oxygen as ordered by physician. IV therapy was initiated to NSS at KVO and
facilitate for ambulance transfer to nearby hospital.
Though, as a primary healthcare nurse
the responsibility in acute treatment is less but to the community in relation
to the importance of oxygen prevails.
Remember the quotes “Prevention is better than cure” reflects the role
of clinic nurses: Education. Here are the possible focuses of health teaching
that could change the human life.
1. Education
on triggering factors such as cigarette smoke, allergies to animals with fur,
dust in carpets, pillows, strong fumes and sprays like car exhaust, strong
perfumes or stinky cleaning products; cold air in colder season or sometimes
warm during summer; excessive running,
playing, exercising and hard work.
2. Compliance
on medication regimen
3. Consultation
at early stage of symptoms.
4. Consumption
of healthy foods and eliminate junk foods as possible
5. Regular
exercise
Reference:
Retrieved from: http://www.oxygen-review.com/human-body.html
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