A client is receiving oxygen therapy via a nasal cannula. When the client asks the nurse why he needs to have oxygen tubing in his nose, which of the following explanations about the cannula should the nurse give him?

A. The suction control chamber should be filled with sterile water, not tap water. Using tap water can introduce contaminants and increase the risk of infection. It is important to maintain the correct water level to ensure the system works effectively.
B. Clamping a chest tube can lead to a buildup of pressure in the pleural space, potentially causing a tension pneumothorax. If the tube becomes disconnected, the priority is to place the end of the tube in a sterile water container to create a water seal and prevent air from entering the pleural space, rather than clamping the tube.
C. The collection container should be emptied when it is full, not on a set schedule like every shift. Regular monitoring is essential, and the nurse should check the drainage volume and characteristics, emptying it as needed to prevent overfilling.
D. The drainage container should be kept below the level of the client's chest to facilitate proper drainage and prevent backflow of fluid into the pleural space. This is a critical practice in managing a chest tube to ensure effective drainage and to avoid complications.

A. An SpO2 (oxygen saturation) level of 97% indicates that the patient is effectively oxygenating. This is an important measure of gas exchange and shows that the interventions to improve oxygenation have been effective, especially when maintained on a low flow of oxygen (2 liters via nasal cannula).
B. While comfort can indicate improvement, it is subjective and does not directly measure the effectiveness of gas exchange. A patient can appear comfortable but still have impaired oxygenation. Therefore, while this finding is positive, it should not be the primary indicator of effective intervention.
C. The ability to move out of bed without difficulty can indicate improved overall physical status and functional mobility, which may result from effective gas exchange. However, this alone does not specifically assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed at gas exchange.
D. This option is not necessarily an indicator of effective interventions for gas exchange. Coughing up copious sputum could indicate ongoing pulmonary issues such as infection or inflammation and does not directly correlate with improved gas exchange.