Question

The nurse responds to an alarm on a pulse oximeter and sees the patient's oxygen saturation is reading 38%. The nurse observes the patient, noting a respiratory rate of 12 breaths per minute, pink mucous membranes, and easy regular respirations. The nurse concludes the pulse oximeter is not reading accurately. Whose theory of nursing is this nurse demonstrating?

A) Annie Goodrich
B) Lillian D. Wald
C) Florence Nightingale
D) Linda Richards

Answer 1

The nurse's clinical judgment over the oximeter's reading demonstrates the principles of Florence Nightingale's theory of nursing, highlighting the importance of observational skills in patient assessment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's observations and conclusion that the pulse oximeter is not reading accurately reflects the principles of Nursing theorist Florence Nightingale. This conclusion is based on the contradiction between the oximeter reading of 38% oxygen saturation, which would normally indicate severe hypoxemia, and the clinical signs of the patient, which suggest normal oxygenation such as pink mucous membranes, a regular respiratory rate, and easy respirations. Nightingale's theory emphasizes the importance of the nurse's judgment and observational skills in patient care, and in this scenario, the nurse used their clinical expertise to assess the situation rather than relying solely on the technological monitoring.