What should you monitor after administering supplemental oxygen via a nasal cannula?

Monitoring oxygen saturation levels and respiratory effort after administering supplemental oxygen via a nasal cannula is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of the oxygen therapy. The primary goal of supplemental oxygen is to improve the patient's oxygen delivery to vital organs and tissues. Measuring oxygen saturation helps determine if the patient is achieving adequate oxygen levels in the blood, which is particularly important in situations involving respiratory distress or hypoxia.

Additionally, observing respiratory effort is essential because it provides insights into how well the patient is breathing and whether they are in respiratory distress. Changes in respiratory rate or pattern, as well as any signs of increased work of breathing, can indicate that the patient's condition is worsening or that they may require further medical intervention.

While monitoring other parameters such as blood pressure and mental status may be important in certain contexts, they do not directly assess the effectiveness of supplemental oxygen in the same way that oxygen saturation and respiratory effort do. Therefore, focusing on these two areas provides the most relevant information regarding the patient’s response to the treatment.