An 89-year-old patient arrives at the emergency department by ambulance after having been found lethargic at home
After placing the patient on a monitor and applying oxygen via nasal cannula, the nurse notes that the SpO2 monitor reads 92 percent. Based on this assessment, the nurse should plan to do which of the following? 1. notify the physician of this change in condition
2. continue to monitor the patient
3. increase the oxygen to 10 liters via nasal cannula
4. change to higher concentration oxygen via aerosol mask
2
Rationale: Although it is not optimal, an SpO2 of 92 percent is acceptable for an 89-year-old. However, because this patient is at risk for respiratory failure for a number of reasons, it would be pertinent to monitor the patient closely. The nurse would not notify the physician of a normal value. It would be very unlikely that the nurse would increase oxygen for a patient who is maintaining an acceptable SpO2 level. Similarly, the nurse would not change to aerosol mask when a patient is maintaining by nasal cannula.
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