Which action should you perform first when respiratory distress begins to ensure accurate assessment?

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

Answer: (B)

Assessing oxygenation first is essential because it gives an immediate, objective picture of how well the blood is delivering oxygen to the tissues. Using pulse oximetry (and, if needed, arterial blood gas analysis) tells you whether the patient is hypoxic and how severely, which then guides how urgently you need to provide oxygen and what other interventions are warranted. Without this initial measurement, you could misjudge the situation by relying on symptoms or vitals alone, and you might either under-treat or delay necessary escalation. Monitoring vitals and escalating care are important steps, but they come after you establish the patient’s actual oxygenation status, and oxygen therapy should be tailored to those findings.