why SaO2 monitoring is important for a patient with a history of bleeding?

kristandrews · Aug 13, 2010

Because blood transports oxygen, a loss of blood also means a temporary decrease in the oxygen-carrying capabilities of your body (and i would assume a decrease in o2 sat as well). i'm just a student too, so don't take my word on it, but maybe this can give you an idea of what to look up!

anonymousstudent · Aug 13, 2010

Have you had patho yet? You need to look at what blood actually DOES. How does it move oxygen?

kristandrews · Aug 14, 2010

anonymous student,

In the lungs, a gas exchange occurs involving the blood and the incoming air. Oxygen enters the bloodstream and CO2 is exhaled by the lungs. Hemoglobin is a component of red blood cells. Oxygen binds to hemoglobin and travels in the bloodstream throughout the body.

anonymousstudent · Aug 14, 2010

anonymous student,
In the lungs, a gas exchange occurs involving the blood and the incoming air. Oxygen enters the bloodstream and CO2 is exhaled by the lungs. Hemoglobin is a component of red blood cells. Oxygen binds to hemoglobin and travels in the bloodstream throughout the body.

I was actually asking the OP the question. THEY need to answer the question so they can understand the concept and figure out the reasoning behind the nursing action. lol

kristandrews · Aug 14, 2010

oh ok! oops! :rolleyes:

jaywife · Aug 14, 2010

thx everyone, i cant agree with u more about the blood-O2 relationship. bleeding would cause O2 reducing.

however,

my question is not a "bleeding" patient, but a "history of bleeding" patient.

and this is why am so confused

kristandrews · Aug 14, 2010

do you know how recent the blood loss was? could they be worried about the pt starting to bleed again while they're in the hospital because of their history?

talaxandra · Aug 14, 2010

This sounds like an assignment to me. Before giving you my opinion I'd be interested to know what you think the reason might be.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Aug 14, 2010

People with a history of bleeding don't walk around with O2 monitors stuck to their fingers, so you have to look at what occurs in an acute care setting.

Some questions for you to ponder:

What are the various reasons a patient may have a history of bleeding?

What are the medical procedures this patient is undergoing? Do those procedures increase the risk of bleeding? Why would they increase the risk of bleeding?

How does this history affect current nursing care? What happens almost as soon as a patient walks into an acute care setting?

That should get you started!

jaywife · Aug 28, 2010

thx all