Pulse Ox alternative sites

[sharann, BSN, RN]

Hey everyone,

So when you have a patient who is obviously stable and has good orientation, no resp distress, vitals normal, and you cannot get a pulse ox reading due to PVD or cold hands or whatever...where do you place the probe? The ear is one spot we try but doesn't always work.

Thanks

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Ear, toe, nose (special probes for that area). Good luck.

[suzanne4, RN]

I am currently doing a travel assignment and we use ear probes on 90% plus of our patients. And with excellent results. Works great for those that have PVD or have just returned from surgery. But you also must make sure that you have a probe special for that.

[ritarunningfeet]

if they are the single patient sticker ones, you can use them on the forehead, it is very vascular and close to the central circulation, use it all the time in er.:) :)

[sharann, BSN, RN]

Thank you:)

[NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN]

I use the single user sticker sensors on the forehead. The other thing I do is give the pt a warm pack to hold in his/her hands for about five minutes before I check them. Obviously, if the situation is emergent, this doesn't work, but it's great for routine checks.

[burn out]

if they are the single patient sticker ones, you can use them on the forehead, it is very vascular and close to the central circulation, use it all the time in er.:) :)

I did this one time and wanted my notes to relect that the probe was not on a usual spot so I charted "sat on forehead", when the doctor came in he wanted to know why I sat on the patients forehead, worse yet the patient was his mother.

[ritarunningfeet]

OMG!!! Burn out that is sooooo funny:lol2:

[kunurse]

pedi sticky sat monitor on the ear lobe works great

[va2008]

we have had super bad issues with our pulse oxs related to the company that supplies them reprocessing and recycling them! so my solutions-

1- keep it on the finger (single use one), but take the wrapper from an alcohol wipe and place their finger with the pulse ox around it securely.

2-put their whole hand in a plastic/ ziploc-ish bag (kid you not, it works and you get waveform)

3-the ear clip ones, place on nostril (hey, people's noses can get nice and toasty)

4-forehead is good too! and yes, i have had people give me strange looks

[Andrew, RN]

Forehead, taped down with a tegaderm

Toes.

Tip: Cover it with a sheet/blanket. Something to do with its sensitivity to light/lack of heat will affect it. Make sure there is a good waveform before you record a reading.

Remember: it's just an extra little number to look at and you should be treating your patient first and foremost, not the monitor. When in doubt, provide oxygen.

[Babs0512]

Ear, nose, toes, and I prefer thumbs.