Final answer:
The initial action that should be taken in this scenario is to B) Apply oxygen.
The answer is option ⇒b
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient's symptoms and low pulse ox reading indicate hypoxemia, which means a low level of oxygen in the blood.
Here's a step-by-step explanation:
1. Assessing the symptoms:
- The presence of symptoms suggests that the patient is experiencing oxygen deficiency.
- Symptoms may include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, confusion, dizziness, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin), or increased heart rate.
2. Pulse oximetry reading:
- The low pulse ox reading indicates that the patient's blood is not adequately saturated with oxygen.
- Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method used to measure oxygen saturation levels in the blood.
3. Applying oxygen:
- Oxygen therapy is the immediate intervention for hypoxemia to increase the oxygen level in the blood.
- Supplemental oxygen can be administered through various devices, such as nasal cannula, face mask, or ventilator, depending on the severity of the condition.
4. Monitoring the response:
- After administering oxygen, the patient's symptoms and pulse oximetry reading should be monitored.
- Improvement in symptoms and an increase in oxygen saturation levels indicate a positive response to the oxygen therapy.
The answer is option ⇒b