Question

A provider is caring for a 4-year-old child in the urgent care clinic. Primary assessment reveals difficulty breathing and an oxygen saturation of 91%. The provider administers oxygen by nasal cannula with the goal of improving the child's oxygen saturation to what percentage range?

Select the correct answer to this question.
A. 92% to 95%
B. 94% to 99%
C. 96% to 100%
D. 97% to 99%

Answer 1

The goal of oxygen therapy for a 4-year-old child with a saturation of 91% is to elevate their oxygen saturation to the normal range of 94% to 99%. This is done to treat hypoxemia and ensure adequate tissue oxygenation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question about the goal of improving a 4-year-old child's oxygen saturation in an urgent care setting is B. 94% to 99%. When a provider administers oxygen by nasal cannula, the aim is to elevate the oxygen saturation levels to fall within the normal range, which is typically 95-100%. Since the child's oxygen saturation is at 91%, it indicates hypoxemia, or low blood oxygen level, and the goal of oxygen therapy would be to raise it above the 94% threshold to ensure adequate oxygenation of tissues.

Normal pulse oximeter readings can range from 95% to 100%, which is the percentage of hemoglobin sites occupied by oxygen in a patient's blood, otherwise known as percent sat. Hence, a target range of 94% to 99% is chosen to improve the child's condition while keeping the saturation within a safe and effective range.