Gillian Small and Pamela Barsby conducted a survey of qualified A&E staff to explore the key issues in caring for patients with COPD

Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) present to A&E departments with an acute exacerbation of their condition. One of the nurse’s immediate tasks is to assess the patient’s oxygen requirements. There has been much discussion in my own department as to the amount of oxygen patients with COPD should receive. Some nurses insist such patients should receive 51 (approximately 38 per cent) of oxygen via a mask, while others administer 21 (approximately 28 cent) of oxygen.