What is the first step when initiating oxygen therapy?

When initiating oxygen therapy, the first step is to assess the patient's need for oxygen through symptoms and vital signs. This assessment is critical because it helps healthcare providers determine the appropriate course of action based on the specific condition and needs of the patient. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, cyanosis, or altered mental status, along with vital signs like oxygen saturation levels, provide important insights into whether the patient requires supplemental oxygen.

Understanding the patient's condition allows for tailored interventions, ensuring that oxygen therapy is both necessary and delivered safely. Quickly providing supplemental oxygen without this assessment could lead to inappropriate treatment; for instance, administering oxygen to a patient without a confirmed need could potentially worsen hypercapnia in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Consulting with a respiratory therapist, while beneficial for more complex cases, is not the initial step when oxygen therapy is needed. Setting a default flow rate is also secondary; it can only be performed effectively once the assessment dictates the specific oxygen requirements of the patient. Thus, initiating oxygen therapy appropriately begins with a thorough assessment of the patient's condition.