Pulse Oximetry

Patient preparation

• Explain the need for determination of oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter to inform the patient of the purpose of monitoring and to enhance patient cooperation and decrease patient anxiety
• Explain that the value displayed may vary by patient movement, amount of environmental light, patient level of consciousness ( awake or a sleep), and position of the sensor to decrease patient and family anxiety over the constant variability of the values

• Explain that the use of pulse oximetry is part of a much larger assessment of oxygenation status to prepare the patient and family for other possible diagnostic tests of oxygenation (e.g., arterial blood gases)
• Explain the equipment to the patient to facilitate patient cooperation in maintaining sensor placement

• Explain the need for an audible alarm system for determination of oxygen saturation values below a set acceptable limit .Demonstrate the alarm system, alerting the patient and family to the possibility of alarms, including causes of false alarms to provide an understanding of the use of an alarm system and its importance in the overall management of the patient and of circumstances in which a false alarm may occur assists in patient understanding of the values seen while at the bedside.