Question

You are treating a patient who was initially complaining of shortness of breath and chest pain. After stabilizing the​ patient, you note that the pulse​ ox, which initially indicated a SpO2 of​ 87%, has now risen to​ 100%. What should you do​ now?

Answer 1

After stabilization, a SpO2 reading of 100% indicates improved oxygen saturation, but it is imperative to continue monitoring the patient and investigate the initial cause of hypoxemia.

Step-by-step explanation:

You are treating a patient who was initially complaining of shortness of breath and chest pain. Upon stabilizing the patient, you note that the pulse oximeter now indicates a SpO2 of 100%. The appropriate action in this scenario, assuming the patient's condition appears to have improved with stabilization efforts, would be to continue monitoring the patient's vital signs and assessing their overall clinical picture. The rise in SpO2 suggests that the patient's oxygen saturation has improved, but this does not necessarily mean that all underlying issues have been resolved. It is still critical to monitor for any other signs of respiratory or cardiac distress, and to investigate the cause of the initial hypoxemia. Depending on the patient's overall status and medical history, further diagnostic tests or treatments may be necessary to address the underlying causes of the symptoms.