Question

you have arrived at the scene of a call for a man down. as you enter the residence you note that your patient is a male in his mid - 60s who is awake but does not seem to acknowledge your presence. he is perspiring profusely, has cyanosis of his ears and lips, and has rapid, shallow respirations.
does this patient need oxygen? if so what type?
no
yes, nasal canula at 2 - 6 lpm
yes, non rebreather at 15 lpm
yes, cpap
yes, bvm at 15 lpm

Explanation:

The patient shows signs of poor oxygenation (cyanosis, rapid - shallow respirations). A non - rebreather mask at 15 lpm provides a high concentration of oxygen (up to 90 - 100%) which is appropriate for a patient with significant respiratory distress. A nasal cannula (2 - 6 lpm) provides a lower concentration (24 - 44%) which may not be sufficient. CPAP is for patients with certain types of respiratory failure (e.g., COPD exacerbation with specific pressure requirements) and there is no indication here. BVM (bag - valve - mask) is usually for patients who are not breathing adequately (apneic or with ineffective respirations), but the patient is awake (even if not acknowledging presence) and breathing (rapid - shallow).

Answer:

Yes, non rebreather at 15 lpm