The Patient: An 80-year-old male who has used continuous oxygen for the past three years. The Situation: While making a home visit, the wife tells the nurse that her husband was doing well on 2 liters of oxygen per minute until late last night when he developed severe shortness of breath on the way to the bathroom. The Question: What action should the nurse take first?

The Patient: An 80-year-old male who has used continuous oxygen for the past three years. The Situation: While making a home visit, the wife tells the nurse that her husband was doing well on 2 liters of oxygen per minute until late last night when he developed severe shortness of breath on the way to the bathroom. The Question: What action should the nurse take first?



A. Assess the patient's oxygen saturation by a pulse oximeter.

B. Ask the patient to lie down and wait to see if it happens again.

C. Begin administering 2.5 liters of oxygen per minute.



Answer: A. Assess the patient's oxygen saturation by a pulse oximeter.


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