Which statement about oxygen saturation (SpO2) is correct?

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Prepare for the AACN Essentials of Critical Care Nursing Test. Study with multiple choice questions and thorough explanations. Ace your test effortlessly!

Multiple Choice

Which statement about oxygen saturation (SpO2) is correct?

Explanation:
SpO2 reflects the percentage of hemoglobin binding sites that are occupied by oxygen, measured noninvasively with pulse oximetry. It does not measure the amount of dissolved oxygen in plasma (that’s PaO2), and it is not the same as PaO2, even though they relate through the oxygen–hemoglobin dissociation curve. SpO2 can be influenced by hemoglobin status—low hemoglobin, or abnormal forms like carboxyhemoglobin or methemoglobin can affect readings—so it isn’t independent of Hb status. Therefore, the statement that SpO2 represents the percentage of hemoglobin bound with oxygen is the correct interpretation.

SpO2 reflects the percentage of hemoglobin binding sites that are occupied by oxygen, measured noninvasively with pulse oximetry. It does not measure the amount of dissolved oxygen in plasma (that’s PaO2), and it is not the same as PaO2, even though they relate through the oxygen–hemoglobin dissociation curve. SpO2 can be influenced by hemoglobin status—low hemoglobin, or abnormal forms like carboxyhemoglobin or methemoglobin can affect readings—so it isn’t independent of Hb status. Therefore, the statement that SpO2 represents the percentage of hemoglobin bound with oxygen is the correct interpretation.

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