What O2 sat is too low?

[kidzcare]

When I have students come in with difficulty breathing or asthma issues, I use the pulse oximeter. My problem is that when I chart it, the computer system I use highlights it in yellow as a warning at 94-96% and anything under that in red. 97-100 gets green.

Does this seem excessive to you? Is a 95% O2 that big of a warning when other clinical data is fine? No wheezing, no retractions, 14 resp/minute. I chart all that, but I freak out a little that it could come back on me. Like if a student has more trouble breathing later, and I charted that the O2 was 94 and sent the student back to class even though my system was showing me that as a warning?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Are you using an OTC pulse of not intended for clinical use nor on children? If a clinical pulse ox, Has the calibration of the device been verified?

I've got pedi patients that the goal is >=92%. Others their baseline is 95%. Tried a finger probe once not intended for curiosity with a Massimo pedi probe on the other finger. OTC finger pulse ox had 92%, calibrated Massimo pedi probe was reading 98%. The calibrated device intended for pedi use was the more accurate read.

[OldDude]

If your respiratory assessment is normal and the pulse rate is not elevated - at rest - there's no need to use the pulse ox since you're assessing the patient and not the meter. I use the pulse ox but when it conflicts with my physical assessment I default to my eyes and ears. Just keep in mind...you'll never have a kid in any kind of distress, especially respiratory, if they have a normal pulse rate and rhythm.