A child is admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with respiratory distress and respiratory ...

ANS: A, C
This child's oxygen saturation does not correlate with respiratory distress and acidosis. Appropriate actions include assessing the child's hemoglobin and hematocrit and requesting the use of a carbon dioxide monitor. If the child is anemic, even with a saturation of 98, the child will not have enough oxygen for tissue needs. The child may also have high levels of carbon dioxide causing or caused by the respiratory distress and acidosis, so this value should be monitored. The oximeter may not be working properly or reading accurately. Without further information, it is unknown if the child needs immediate intubation and mechanical ventilation. Titrating oxygen down in the face of respiratory distress is not warranted. Waiting 30 minutes is also not warranted, as this child is quite ill.