For a patient with severe respiratory distress and an oxygen saturation of 82%, what should you apply?

In cases of severe respiratory distress, particularly when oxygen saturation levels drop to 82%, it's crucial to provide high-flow supplemental oxygen to quickly increase the patient's oxygen levels. Applying a nonrebreathing mask is the most effective method in this scenario.

A nonrebreathing mask is designed to deliver a high concentration of oxygen while minimizing the exhaled carbon dioxide that can re-enter the mask. This device is specifically beneficial for patients in respiratory distress, as it ensures they receive a significant amount of oxygen quickly, helping to improve their oxygen saturation levels more efficiently than a nasal cannula would.

While monitoring blood pressure is important in emergency situations, a CPAP device is not the most appropriate immediate intervention for severe respiratory distress unless the patient is in a specific condition such as congestive heart failure or certain types of respiratory failure. Nasal cannulas provide much lower concentrations of oxygen compared to a nonrebreathing mask and would likely be insufficient for a patient with such low oxygen saturation. Assisting with ventilations using a bag-mask device is typically reserved for situations where the patient cannot breathe adequately or is unable to maintain their airway, which overlaps with a progression of care rather than the initial oxygen delivery needed in this circumstance.

Choosing a nonrebreathing