Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy and Changes in Respiratory Status: A Descriptive Case Study of Two Patients

Abstract

Ineffective breathing patterns in pediatric patients require systematic assessment and timely nursing intervention to monitor respiratory function and oxygenation. Although conventional nasal-cannula oxygen therapy is used in clinical practice, detailed descriptions of its implementation within the nursing-care process across different clinical presentations remain valuable. This study describes the implementation of n​asal-cannula oxygen therapy and changes in selected respiratory indicators among two patients with an ineffective breathing pattern. A descriptive case-study design was employed in the Dahlia ward of RS TK II Pelamonia Makassar, Indonesia. Two patients, aged 2 and 17 years, who were already receiving physician-prescribed oxygen therapy were observed over three days. Data were collected through family interviews, direct observation, physical examination, vital-sign measurements, and pulse oximetry, and were analyzed descriptively. Both patients showed improvements in respiratory status during the observation period. In the 2-year-old patient with bronchopneumonia, oxygen saturation (SpO₂) increased from 90% to 99%, while respiratory rate decreased from 32 to 28 breaths/min. In the 17-year-old patient with abdominal colic and a reported history of seizures, SpO₂ increased from a recorded 92% to 99%, while respiratory rate decreased from 30 to 24 breaths/min. Both cases also showed reduced dyspnea, more regular breathing, and greater comfort. The study provides a context-specific account of nursing assessment, intervention, monitoring, and evaluation across two distinct clinical presentations. These findings highlight the value of multidimensional respiratory assessment but do not establish that oxygen therapy alone caused the observed improvements. Larger comparative studies with standardized measurements are needed to evaluate treatment effects.