Oxygen depndent or independent nsg action

[ggestano2002]

Scenario: The nurse finds that the o2 sat of the patient with asthma is 78 %,. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? Apply oxygen or call the physician? Just confused though. Some books says oxygenation must be ordered first by the physician. Just need your ideas about the matter.thanks.

[dragon_lady]

Administer oxygen first because 78 % is so critical.NCLEX wouldn't want an answer that will your patient.Make your nursing judgment.What if you leave your patient without doing intervention?What will happen to your patient?Things like that.

[mimi397]

Sorry everyone, but from my NCLEX book I've been getting conflicting answers. For example, this question states receiving parental nutrition. Pt starts with dyspnea, chest pain, respiratory distress. Nurse suspects air embolism. Put the interventions in order. So i originally answered clamp catheter, place in Trendelenburg, apply o2, call the dr, take vitals, document. NCLEX says wrong. Order is to call dr b4 before administering O2. In my mind, my patient is unstable and with the type of complaints, why would i not put on O2 before calling the dr? I just don't agree and highly doubt I would call dr first in real world practice.

[PennyS]

I was told that in an emergency situation in NCLEX land, you ALWAYS have a standing order for O2 so I am giving O2. In real world land.....I am also giving O2.

[/username, BSN, RN]

Scenario: The nurse finds that the o2 sat of the patient with asthma is 78 %,. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? Apply oxygen or call the physician? Just confused though. Some books says oxygenation must be ordered first by the physician. Just need your ideas about the matter.thanks.

It doesn't matter. You're overthinking the question. The NCLEX hospital is perfect, and you always have an order - everything in the question is real, and everything in the answer is real. You don't have to call for orders, or any of that bullcrap. They're concerned about what one action you would do for that patient if you could never see them again. Calling the physician is passing the buck and does nothing for the patient. Applying o2 improves their oxygenation status.