Question

The first action that the nurse should take if she finds the client has an O2 saturation of 68% is:

Elevate the head of the bed
Recheck the O2 saturation in 30 minutes
Apply oxygen by mask
Assess the heart rate

Answer 1

The nurse should immediately apply oxygen by mask to address the client's severely low O2 saturation level of 68%, which signifies hypoxemia, a condition requiring urgent treatment to prevent serious health consequences.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first action the nurse should take if she finds the client has an O2 saturation of 68% is to apply oxygen by mask. An oxygen saturation level below 90% is considered hypoxemic and can compromise organ function, leading to serious outcomes if not urgently addressed. Use of a pulse oximeter allows healthcare providers to monitor the percent saturation, which is the percentage of hemoglobin occupied by oxygen, with normal readings ranging from 95-100%. The low reading of 68% should prompt immediate intervention to increase the oxygen levels in the patient's blood, and thus applying oxygen by mask is the priority action to correct the hypoxemia. Continuous monitoring is also essential to assess the patient's response to the oxygen therapy.