During nebulization for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the nurse notes that the medication is not visibly misting. What is the best nursing action to address this issue?
Check for kinks in the tubing and ensure the device is connected
If the nebuliser is not producing visible mist, the fault is usually mechanical: a kink in the tubing, a loose connection or an empty medication cup.
The right first step is to check the tubing for kinks and make sure the compressor or oxygen source is correctly connected, then verify the medication is in the cup.
Making the patient hold the breath 10 seconds, giving the next scheduled dose or increasing wall oxygen to maximum does not address the mechanical cause and may be unsafe.
Hence, Check for kinks in the tubing and ensure the device is connected.
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