Use of pulse oximetry in hospice

[HoosierMale]

As a novice to hospice care I have a question related to using the pulse ox with vitals. I could not recertify a patient owing to his 02 sat being too high for too long and have been getting the third degree every since he was disnissed as not appropriate. usually once a week or more I am assaulted with some remak abpout why a dying patient would ever need to have their pulse ox read. If you think he needs 02, just put it on I am told. No need to take a reading. A good nurse should not need a pulse ox as these patients are terminal and it is unncessary. I think some of this may relate to the fact that I asked for a finger tip pulse oximter and was told I would half to do without or buy my own. I have always used one and I thought the recert and admit process it would be helpful. Maybe this is about just not losing a potential patient. Any suggestions or was I told good info here?

[tewdles, RN]

In my experience dyspnea and shortness of breath are frequently unrelated to O2 sats.

[leslie :-D]

In my experience dyspnea and shortness of breath are frequently unrelated to O2 sats.

that has been my experience as well.

i remember i was precepting a new nurse, and the pt went into resp distress...

aeb resps in 50's , diaphoretic, tachycardic.

the student nurse 'reminded' me his sats were 96% on ra, AND SO HE DIDN'T NEED O2.

while i agreed that o2 at this point would be futile (i maxed him out on his mso4), i also reminded her to look at the darned pt and not be so focused on the equipment.

so yeah, i put very little stock into oximetry.

we hospice nurses are soooo used to assessing every nook and cranny on the pt.

(and there are several.:))

leslie