You’re Probably Giving Oxygen Wrong

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:00]You're probably giving oxygen wrong, and it's why your patient isn't getting better. Before we start, remember this.

[00:00:06]Room air is 21% FiO2. So, anytime we're giving oxygen, we are increasing from that baseline. But choosing the right device, this is where people mess up sometimes. First, we have our nasal cannula. This is our low-flow oxygen.

[00:00:20]We're giving about 1 to 6 L per minute, which equates to roughly 24 to 44% FiO2.

[00:00:26]But it's not exact and can vary based on how your patient is breathing. For example, if they are mouth breathers, they won't get all of that FiO2 going into their nose. So, we use this for patients with mild hypoxia and stable patients. And remember that anything above 6 L can dry out the nose and mucosa, so be mindful. Next, we have our non-rebreather mask. This is our emergency oxygen. We're delivering high concentrations up to about 80 to 90% FiO2. We'll use this when our patient is severely hypoxic, in respiratory distress, or decompensating. This is short-term, buys you some time kind of device. It's not meant for long-term use. And remember to make sure that the reservoir bag stays inflated. If it's collapsing, you are not delivering enough oxygen. And then we have our Venturi mask. This is the most misunderstood one. It's not about giving the most oxygen, it's about giving the most accurate oxygen. We can deliver exact FiO2 levels, like 24%, 28%, 35%.

[00:01:25]This is why we use it for COPD patients and anyone needing controlled oxygen.

[00:01:30]And a quick reality check over here, depending on the adapter you attach, you could actually be giving less oxygen than a 6 L nasal cannula. So, always check that FiO2 adapter. If you comment oxygen down below, I will DM you a study guide that goes over all of these oxygen devices in detail.