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Multiple Choice

Next step if NRB don't work?

When a non-rebreather mask isn’t providing adequate ventilation or oxygenation, the next step is to manually ventilate with a bag-valve-mask. A NRB mask relies on the patient’s own breathing and can’t reliably deliver breaths for someone who isn’t ventilating well. The bag-valve-mask lets you actively deliver breaths at a controlled rate and volume, and it can deliver near-maximal oxygen when used with a reservoir and high-flow oxygen. In practice, you’d create a good seal with the mask, use a two-person technique when possible to optimize the seal, attach the bag to an oxygen source, and compress the bag at a steady rate (about 10–12 breaths per minute for an adult) while watching for chest rise. This approach provides immediate support while you assess airway patency and breathing. If ventilation remains inadequate with a BVM, you would escalate to an advanced airway device (such as a supraglottic airway or endotracheal tube) per protocol.

When a non-rebreather mask isn’t providing adequate ventilation or oxygenation, the next step is to manually ventilate with a bag-valve-mask. A NRB mask relies on the patient’s own breathing and can’t reliably deliver breaths for someone who isn’t ventilating well. The bag-valve-mask lets you actively deliver breaths at a controlled rate and volume, and it can deliver near-maximal oxygen when used with a reservoir and high-flow oxygen.

In practice, you’d create a good seal with the mask, use a two-person technique when possible to optimize the seal, attach the bag to an oxygen source, and compress the bag at a steady rate (about 10–12 breaths per minute for an adult) while watching for chest rise. This approach provides immediate support while you assess airway patency and breathing.

If ventilation remains inadequate with a BVM, you would escalate to an advanced airway device (such as a supraglottic airway or endotracheal tube) per protocol.