Help with Pulse Oximetry Question

[purplestang]

Can someone please help me with this test question I was just given:

It goes something like this:

If patient is up and ambulating down the hall and has a pulse oximetry reading taken and it is 83%, what should you do first?

Get an ABG reading

Put patient back in bed to rest

Put oxygen on patient and continue ambulating

THanks!

[NurseKitten, MSN, RN]

Attached is my set of notes regarding pulse oximetry monitoring from my anesthesia program - it was the first time I truly UNDERSTOOD what was going on. :)

Holler if you have any questions, but I rewrote the notes that they're pretty self-explanitory.

Pulse Oximetry.doc

[littlenursemom]

Yep and also realize that every patient is an individual. While 70's for SaO2 is not acceptable for most people, for many with COPD & CO2 retention, mid to high 80's is not only acceptable, it's their life range. This could be where they hang out. If they're SOB or exceptionally tachypnic, then you def. should be more concerned.

^^^^^^^^

very true and you might want to check the length of the finger nails and if there is any nail polish on them.

[nkara, CNA]

I know on my floor if they aren't picking up right it's sometimes the cords.

[medic97RN09]

I've just finished my rotation on Cardiac ICU and i experienced the same problem. My preceptor used neonatal POX probes and put them on the patients ear lobe. Seemed to work every time.

C

[Sunflowerinsc, ADN, RN]

The previous answers give good advise. But I probably would not want to use hot packs on cold toes and fingers on pt's with circulation problems. Warm blanket ,yes but not hot packs. Earlobe generally does better with poor circulation problems. And always nurse the pt, not the machine.