Competency: 10

Details

Set up oxygen saturation monitoring equipment on a range of patients, interpreting and responding to trends in physiological variables and calibrating as necessary.

Considerations

• Range of equipment used, relative merits and principles of measurement, including:
  • recognition of the errors or potential risks of using defective equipment in clinical practice and the implications of use
  • the application of relevant troubleshooting skills
  • identification of common faults and remedial action
  • current safety standards, including safety testing and routine maintenance
  • requirements for set-up and calibration specific to that procedure.
• Standard operating procedure.
• National guidance and trust policy (BTS Guideline; Thorax, 2008).
• SOP for setting up an oxygen saturation monitor.
• Electrode sites for oxygen monitoring to achieve optimum performance.
• How to minimise patient discomfort in relation to monitoring devices.
• Normal ranges and interpretation in the context of the clinical circumstances.
• Identification of abnormalities requiring urgent intervention.
• How to differentiate real change from artefact and respond appropriately.
• Choice of monitor and monitor settings and rate alarm.
• How to recognise technical artefacts.
• Routine maintenance and calibration.
• Cleaning and disinfection post monitoring.

Relevant learning outcomes