Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 68%
Simulated
A nurse is obtaining an oxygen saturation on a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
The correct answer is D: Choose a finger with a capillary refill less than 2 sec. This is crucial as a capillary refill time longer than 2 seconds can indicate poor peripheral perfusion, affecting the accuracy of the oxygen saturation reading. Placing the sensor on a finger with good capillary refill ensures reliable results. Waiting 10 seconds after placing the probe (choice A) is unnecessary and may delay care. Placing the sensor on the same extremity as an electronic blood pressure cuff (choice B) can lead to inaccurate readings due to interference. Relocating the sensor every 8 hours (choice C) is not a standard practice and may disrupt continuous monitoring.