Oxygen therapy

It depends on the specific type of mask, but generally masks need sufficient oxygen inflow to flush out exhaled CO2. It doesn't necessarily even have to be oxygen, just some source of fresh air that will displace the CO2 that is being exhaled into the mask. Since O2 will serve this purpose we usually just use sufficient O2 flow to help purge the mask of exhaled air.

Oxygen is a drug. The liter flow is a prescribed dosage. The mask method of delivery would change the dosage ordered by the physician.

I knew I would need to get a new order and change the method in which the oxygen was being given. She also gave this whole speech about how the cnas can't hook up the oxygen which is news to me because they do it regularly in this facility they just check with the nurse on what the liter flow is ... Kind of feel like she was just picking on me. She knows this patient was on rounds and being monitored by the supervisor who said nothing and this isn't even a floor nurse she just reviews charts ... Thank goodness I'm just per diem there. They are always short and I'm going to stop picking up so many days because of stupid stuff like this all the time. Today it was run this down stairs now run back up and back down... I have 25 patients ... Let me work.

That wasn't stupid though. Your patient could have died. Just because others didn't catch it doesn't mean it wasn't wrong. It is everyone's responsibility to offer safe and competent care. Yes you probably felt picked on, but you will probably never make that mistake again or not pick up on it if someone else does.