Oxygen Desaturation and Nursing Practices in Critically Ill Patients

Background: With the goal of optimizing tissue perfusion and maintaining adequate oxygen delivery, nurses play an important role in monitoring oxygenation and ventilation. Nursing practices may affect oxygen saturation in critically ill patients. Aim of study was to determine the relationship between nursing practices and oxygen desaturation in critically ill patients. Design: A descriptive research design was used in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at the Critical Care Units (CCUs) of two selected Hospitals at Makah AlMukaramah, KSA. Subjects; a convenience sample of 100 newly admitted critically ill patients were included in the study. Tool of data collection was the relationship between nursing practices and oxygen desaturation in critically ill patients’ tool. It consists of two parts: Part 1; nursing practices observation checklists and part 2; oxygen saturation monitoring record. Results: It was noted that in 67% of observations, patients had their position changed by nurses once per shift, no patients had hyperoxygenation during suctioning. In addition, there were significant correlation between oxygen desaturation during, and after bathing (r .403, p.000, r .342, p .000). Conclusion; nursing practices mainly suctioning, positioning and bathing affect oxygen desaturation in critically ill patients. There were significant relationships between oxygen desaturation and the procedures performed as oxygen saturation decreased during and after certain performed procedures especially suctioning. Recommendations: Protocols should be developed regarding oxygen desaturation in critically ill patients. Adequate supervision should be provided on nurses during their practice.