Administering Oxygen via Hudson Mask

Oxygen is administered as an inhaled medication on a short-term or long-term basis for both acute and chronic conditions. There must be an order written by a medical officer (MO) and the order must be appropriate to the condition being treated. It should specify the flow rate and delivery system required.

As with all medications, there are risks associated with oxygen administration, including fire and oxygen toxicity. Oxygen can cause adverse effects including dry nasal passages, headaches and tiredness. The client must be closely monitored during oxygen administration to quickly detect and correct adverse effects.