Final answer:
For a patient with an oxygen saturation level of 82%, the appropriate nursing diagnosis is impaired gas exchange, as it indicates a lower than normal level of circulating oxygen in the blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient with an oxygen saturation level of 82% is exhibiting signs of impaired gas exchange. This nursing diagnosis is appropriate because the oxygen saturation level (often referred to as "percent sat") is below the normal range, which typically falls between 95% and 100%. An oxygen saturation level below 90% is generally considered hypoxemic and indicates that there is an insufficient level of oxygen being circulated in the blood to meet the body's needs. Factors contributing to impaired gas exchange may include issues such as lung diseases, obstruction in the airways or problems with the diffusion of oxygen from the alveoli to the blood.
Furthermore, this diagnosis is supported by the information indicating that hyperventilation is characterized by increased ventilation rate that is independent of the cellular oxygen needs, leading to abnormally low blood carbon dioxide levels and high blood pH. Hyperventilation would not be appropriate here, as there is no indication of low CO2 or high pH. Ineffective airway clearance would suggest that the patient is having difficulty clearing secretions or obstructions from the respiratory tract, which is not directly indicated by a low oxygen saturation. Lastly, risk for infection is a more general diagnosis that could be applicable in many situations, but does not directly address the immediate issue of low oxygen saturation.