Pulse Ox alternative sites

[sharann]

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

[RTdaviwavi]

Please take no offense to this hot topic.

we had a 29 yo male 70% burn pt. no finger, toe, ear, nose, or forhead for the pulse ox. Hmmmmm where do you think they burn RNs placed the pulse ox???? Yup thats right his vascular member. I am not joking it worked too. the pulse ox that is. Leave it up to the RT to bring this one up. It is a true story at TGH.