Question

You are caring for Mr. Brown who has a diagnosis of COPD. His SPO2 is 82. He is receiving O2 via a nasal cannula at 2 L/min. What do you do

Answer 1

If Mr. Brown's SPO2 is 82, it is significantly below the normal range of 95-100%. This indicates that he is not receiving enough oxygen.

First, I would assess Mr. Brown's breathing and level of consciousness. If he is having difficulty breathing or is showing signs of confusion or lethargy, I would immediately increase his oxygen flow rate to 3-4 L/min to increase his oxygen saturation.

If Mr. Brown is stable and not showing signs of respiratory distress, I would still increase his oxygen flow rate to 3-4 L/min to improve his oxygen saturation. I would also notify his healthcare provider of the low SPO2 reading and the increased oxygen flow rate.

It is important to monitor Mr. Brown's oxygen saturation closely and adjust his oxygen flow rate as necessary to maintain his SPO2 within the normal range.