Critical Care Nursing Questions and Answers PDF Related

Review Critical Care Nursing Questions and Answers PDF related questions and content

What does pulse oximetry measure?

  • A. Arterial blood gases
  • B. Hemoglobin values
  • C. Oxygen consumption
  • D. Oxygen saturation
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Pulse oximetry measures oxygen saturation in the blood by analyzing the absorption of light by hemoglobin. Oxygen saturation indicates the percentage of hemoglobin molecules carrying oxygen. This is essential for assessing respiratory function and oxygen delivery to tissues. Arterial blood gases (Choice A) directly measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, not specifically oxygen saturation. Hemoglobin values (Choice B) provide information about the amount of hemoglobin present but not its oxygen-carrying capacity. Oxygen consumption (Choice C) is a measure of how much oxygen is used by tissues, not what pulse oximetry directly measures.