If a patient is given 5 minutes of O2 post-appointment and has a headache, what is the appropriate action?

Enhance your knowledge for the Nitrous Oxide Board Exam. Utilize a collection of flashcards and multiple-choice questions complete with clues and detailed explanations. Be well-prepared for your test journey!

Administering more oxygen is appropriate in this scenario because headaches can be a common side effect of nitrous oxide use. This may occur due to diffusion hypoxia, which can happen when nitrous oxide is discontinued and the patient shifts back to normal oxygen levels. By providing additional oxygen, you facilitate the elimination of residual nitrous oxide from the body, which can help alleviate the headache and improve the patient's overall comfort.

Monitoring the headache might not address the underlying cause, while providing pain medication may mask symptoms without resolving the issue at hand. Scheduling a follow-up might be unnecessary if the immediate remedy of oxygen can be applied to improve the patient's situation. Thus, administering more oxygen is a timely and effective corrective action for addressing this specific issue related to nitrous oxide usage.

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