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from where i am, it does need an order if under 4l/min.
when on lo-flo o2, our natural airway moisture should assist in humidying o2.
plus, some dr's worry about bacterial contamination r/t humidified environment.
so if it's not clinically warranted and is basically a pt comfort issue, then you need an order.
leslie
Ado Annie, ASN, RN
1,385 Posts
specifically, humidifying low-flow oxygen. My textbooks states "there is no need for humidification with low-flow oxygen"... but based on experience, I disagree. Some patients
get really dried out and have thick secretions that are hard for them to clear, and I think the humidification helps with that.
Is an order required? Surely not, but it seems I remember something in my clinicals about
waiting around for an order for humidity with the O2.