How to give oxygen (cannula, mask, non-rebreather)
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Oxygen is a drug: it has a dose (the flow) and a target. Pick the device that matches how sick the patient is.
Step by step
Assess
Breathing rate, effort, color, oxygen saturation and level of consciousness. [1]
Check the order or protocol
Target saturation is often 94 to 98%; some patients with chronic lung disease have a lower target set by the prescriber. [1]
Nasal cannula
1 to 6 L/min. Prongs curving into the nose, tubing over the ears. [1]
Simple face mask
About 6 to 10 L/min (at least 5 to wash out exhaled air). [1]
Non-rebreather
10 to 15 L/min. Fill the reservoir bag before putting it on; the bag should not collapse when the patient breathes in. [2]
Venturi mask
For a precise oxygen percentage, set by the color-coded adapter and its flow. [1]
Safety
No open flames or smoking, cylinder secured, pad the ears and nose where the tubing presses. [1]
Reassess and record
Recheck saturation and effort after a few minutes and write the device and flow. [1]
Common errors
- Putting on a non-rebreather with an empty bag.
- Not writing the device and flow with the saturation.
- Forgetting skin checks behind the ears.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)
- NREMT psychomotor skill sheets (EMT and Paramedic)
Steps adapted from Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Facts and steps also follow NREMT psychomotor skill sheets (EMT and Paramedic). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.