Which action should you perform to verify the patient is receiving the prescribed oxygen therapy?

• A. Administer oxygen as ordered
• B. Assess oxygenation
• C. Monitor vitals
• D. Escalate care as needed

Answer: (B)

Assessing oxygenation is the action that verifies whether the prescribed oxygen therapy is achieving the desired effect. This means checking how well the blood is carrying oxygen by measuring SpO2 with a pulse oximeter and comparing it to the order’s target range. If readings are outside the goal, reevaluate the equipment, flow rate, and patient condition, and consider an arterial blood gas for a more precise picture of oxygenation and ventilation. Clinical signs like work of breathing and mental status can help, too. Administering oxygen as ordered simply delivers the therapy; monitoring vitals alone may miss whether oxygenation is adequate; escalating care is the next step if optimization isn’t achieved after assessment.