Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at risk of developing acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) if given high-concentration uncontrolled oxygen inappropriately. This article analyses a critical incident involving a patient who developed AHRF, and identifies areas for improvement in clinical practice that would improve the standard of care for patients with COPD.
Nursing Standard. 27, 47, 35-41. doi: 10.7748/ns2013.07.27.47.35.e7339
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double blind peer review
Received: 04 November 2012
Accepted: 22 February 2013
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