Running head: PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

CLPNA Competency
Kyra Scheuerman
NorQuest College
NFDN 2003 A01
Patrick Kelly
Assignment 2: Professional Portfolio
October 8, 2015

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

2
CLPNA Competency
Competency Number

Major Competency Area: F Respiratory Care

Competency: F-2 Oxygen Therapy
Subcategory: F-2-2 Demonstrate knowledge and the ability to apply and manage oxygen
therapy devices.

Significant Learning Experience

When it comes to oxygen therapy, I believe the most influential experience I have
obtained thus far was from the Nursing Foundations 2003 lab for proper oxygenation techniques.
In this lab we were required to administer oxygen to a patient who was short of breath. We were
required to try this with the nasal cannulas, and the two difference types of masks they had;
which were the rebreather mask and the non-rebreather masks. I now feel competent in this skill
and able to administer oxygen to a client safely.

What I learned
I learned that to keep the client safe while using oxygen I needed to teach them that
oxygen is flammable and should not be near a spark or flame at any time, that petroleum jelly is
not to be used in the nares as it is made with petroleum which is also flammable, it is important
to check for skin breakdown on the face and around the ears as well as breakdown of the mucosa
membrane inside the nares. I also learned the proper way to put each type of mask on, and the
proper amount of oxygen that can be administered while using each type of mask. Oxygen
therapy is an important skill for nursing because if a patients oxygen saturation is below 95%

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

and it is rapidly decreasing, and the patient is complaining of difficulty breathing and shortness
of breath; than it is important to know what to do in the case of an emergency like this and the
proper way to administer oxygen and the correct amount to use with each type of mask. Oxygen
therapy is important to nurses because they want to keep their clients feeling as comfortable as
possible. It is important to our clients because shortness of breath is scary and can cause a lot of
anxiety for them.

Proficiency Rating
I would rate my proficiency in the competency of respiratory care as good because I
understand when to use oxygenation and how to use it properly. I also understand how to keep
the client safe while using oxygenation and the important teachings to teach my client about
oxygen. Overall, I met this skill well and met the expectations and requirements of the
competency, which is to apply and manage oxygen therapy devices appropriately.

Nursing Practice
In my nursing career as a student and a professional I will use this skill to assist in proper
oxygen therapy for clients. Using this procedure over the years to come will aid in better overall
health of the clients during their stay. They will be able to breath easier and I can feel satisfied
knowing I may have made a life saving decision for these clients in some situations. I will use
this skill when clients are feeling short of breath, dizzy, faint, has a spo2 level of under 95%
(unless contraindicated) or if a doctor orders oxygen administration.