JCFEMedic2112

I agree, treat the patient, not the machine, first of all, and secondly, 92 percent could very well be where she lives all of the time. Plus, we do not know what her meds were. Does she have emphysema? CHF? Coughing is only going to be exacerbated by some nice cold, dry, oxygen being introduced to her already irritated upper airway. Coughing could certainly be the source of her back pain if she has had some really bad bouts in the last few days. Making her cough more is going to make her hurt more. Oxygen will do many many things, however, one thing it will never, ever do is cure coughing. Whether the pain is from coughing or not, either way, it s going to make the patient really hurt bad if we make her cough more. I agree with the medic, I would not have placed her on oxygen with the information as provided here. It would have caused her more pain with the likely increased coughing. With all of that said, the Preceptor should have taken the time to explain his reasoning for his choices with you. Precepting is a verb, it does denote that you actually do something. Very good questions!