When teaching assistive personnel about pulse oximetry, which information is vital for the nurse to include?

When teaching assistive personnel about pulse oximetry, it is essential to emphasize the importance of ensuring accurate readings. Removing polish from the client's fingernail is a vital step because nail polish, particularly darker shades, can interfere with the light transmission used by the pulse oximeter. This interference can lead to inaccuracies in the measurement of oxygen saturation levels, which is crucial for assessing a client's respiratory status.

In addition to accuracy, the procedure for taking pulse oximetry readings must be straightforward, and ensuring that the sensor is placed on a clean and unobstructed site, such as a nail bed without polish, is crucial for optimal functionality. Other considerations, such as the choice of probe in clients with specific allergies or conditions, are also important, but they do not take precedence over ensuring that the sensor can effectively capture the required data.