Final answer:
To decide on administering high-concentration oxygen without a SpO₂ monitor, look for signs like cyanosis, altered mental status, and increased respiratory rate, which suggest hypoxemia and warrant oxygen therapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the SpO₂ monitor is not working, there are several clinical signs you can look for to decide whether to administer high-concentration oxygen. These include cyanosis, which is a bluish discoloration of the skin indicating inadequate oxygenation, altered mental status, which may reflect hypoxia's effect on brain function, and increased respiratory rate, suggesting the body's effort to obtain more oxygen.
Other signs of hypoxemia that could prompt the use of high-concentration oxygen include increased heart rate and abnormal lung sounds such as crackling, which could indicate conditions like pneumonia wherein the lungs fill with mucus and impair gas exchange. The presence of hypoxemia might also be indicated by the collection and analysis of a sputum sample, which can show signs of infection, as well as a chest radiograph that may reveal abnormalities such as a 'shadow' in the lungs.