Overview
Introduction
An SpO2 of 98% can be reassuring, but it is not a direct blood measurement and it does not show whether the patient is ventilating adequately.
An SpO2 of 98% can be reassuring, but it is not a direct blood measurement and it does not show whether the patient is ventilating adequately. The NP’s task is to decide whether the number fits the patient, the signal, and the clinical trajectory. A confused person after a house fire and a drowsy patient receiving oxygen can both display a normal SpO2 while requiring urgent assessment and treatment. Use the monitor as one piece of evidence. When the waveform, pulse, perfusion, symptoms, and trend do not agree, the patient—not the number—determines priority.