Increasing clinical use of pulse oximetry.
Changing the system from measuring blood gases through invasive measures to using noninvasive pulse oximetry is a challenge in the Critical Care Unit where invasive techniques are taken for granted. The authors report a project that was successful in increasing the use of noninvasive monitoring techniques by critical care nurses in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit. This clinical project became an important aspect of incorporating the staff in a change to more extensive use of pulse oximetry. This study defines the change in nursing practice with the use of pulse oximetry. The authors discuss three areas: (1) demonstration of the correlation between O2Sat as measured by the pulse oximeter and arterial blood gas saturations; (2) introduction of the pulse oximeter as a reliable alternative to ABGs when monitoring oxygenation; and (3) the establishment of guidelines for using pulse oximetry within the clinical setting.
Peters
K
K
Caulfield
A
A
Schultz
P
P
Miller
C
C
Larson
E L
EL
D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D003422:Critical Care; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D010092:Oximetry