spectrum comparison

Oxygen Delivery Devices: Low-Flow vs High-Flow with FiO2 Ranges

The NCLEX gives you a target SpO2 and asks which device fits. Pick a nasal cannula when the patient needs 80% FiO2 and you've just killed them. Pick a non-rebreather for someone who only needs 28% and you're masking CO2 retention in a COPD patient.

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Comparison

Side-by-side6 compared
Comparevs
Dimension
Nasal Cannula
Simple Mask
Venturi Mask
Partial Rebreather
Non-Rebreather
High-Flow Nasal Cannula
Flow rate
  • 1–6 L/min
  • 5–8 L/min
  • Varies by adapter (~4–12 L/min)
  • 6–15 L/min
  • 10–15 L/min
  • Up to 60 L/min
FiO₂ range
  • 24–44%
  • 40–60%
  • 24–50% (precise, dialed)
  • 60–75%
  • 80–95%
  • 21–100% (set independent of flow)
Key feature
  • Comfortable
  • patient can eat, talk, sleep
  • Delivers more O₂ than nasal cannula
  • ★Most precise FiO₂ — best for COPD
  • Reservoir refills with O₂-rich exhaled gas
  • ★Highest FiO₂ without intubation
  • Heated, humidified
  • mild PEEP effect
Key nursing care
  • Each L ≈ +4% FiO₂
  • humidify if > 4 L/min
  • ★Never run < 5 L/min — CO₂ rebreathing
  • Use correct jet adapter
  • don't block ports
  • Keep reservoir bag ≥ ⅓ inflated on inspiration
  • Keep bag fully inflated
  • if still hypoxic then intubate
  • Needs blender system
  • monitor nares for breakdown
Flow rate

Nasal Cannula

  • 1–6 L/min

Simple Mask

  • 5–8 L/min
FiO₂ range

Nasal Cannula

  • 24–44%

Simple Mask

  • 40–60%
Key feature

Nasal Cannula

  • Comfortable
  • patient can eat, talk, sleep

Simple Mask

  • Delivers more O₂ than nasal cannula
Key nursing care

Nasal Cannula

  • Each L ≈ +4% FiO₂
  • humidify if > 4 L/min

Simple Mask

  • ★Never run < 5 L/min — CO₂ rebreathing

★ marks the fact that sets a column apart.

Clinical Pearl

4% per liter for cannula, Venturi for precision, non-rebreather for max FiO2 before intubation.

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Component Topics

High-Flow Oxygen DevicesLow-Flow Oxygen Devices

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