Which statement about a nonrebreather mask is accurate?

• A. It can ventilate a patient who is not breathing
• B. It requires adequate breathing to pull oxygen into the lungs
• C. It delivers 100% oxygen regardless of breathing
• D. It is used to ventilate apneic patients directly

Answer: (B)

Understanding how a nonrebreather mask works is key. It provides a high concentration of oxygen only when the patient is actually breathing on their own. The mask has a reservoir that fills with oxygen and one-way valves to prevent exhaled air from entering that reservoir. As the patient inhales, they draw oxygen from the reservoir and mask; exhaled air escapes through the side ports. Because there’s no mechanism to move air into the lungs on its own, the device cannot ventilate someone who isn’t breathing. If the patient isn’t breathing, you’d need a bag-valve mask or another ventilation method.

So, the accurate statement is that it requires adequate breathing to pull oxygen into the lungs. The other statements are not correct: it does not ventilate a nonbreathing patient; it cannot guarantee 100% oxygen regardless of breathing due to factors like mask seal and breathing pattern; and it isn’t used to ventilate apneic patients directly.