Step 6: O₂ – ABG Interpretation (Nursing)

00:00 Look, we made it, step 6.

00:04 This one is very straightforward, you look at the O2 .

00:07 Okay, a PaO2 - that's the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood.

00:13 So normal is 80 to 100 (mmHg), now that's a textbook value.

00:17 Now keep in mind that's different than an SaO2 I can get an SaO2 or a Sat, it's the measurement of the percentage of how much hemoglobin is saturated with oxygen.

00:29 So we get that from a pulse ox.

00:30 We're shooting at 95 to 100% in a perfect world but I want you to really focus on the PaO2, the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood.

00:41 That's a much more reliable measure than a pulse ox but to get van ABG, you have got to stick a patient in an artery.

00:49 With a pulse ox, I just put a plastic clip on and I can get that number.

00:53 So we're shooting for 80 to 100 (mmHg).

00:57 Okay, let's review the 6 steps.

01:00 We've got number 1 - look at the pH and label it.

01:03 Number 2 look at the CO2 and label it, Number 3 - look at the bicarb and label it, Number 4 - pH matchup, which label matches the pH label? Then the 5th step, is look at the opposite system and see if it's responding in a way that's appropriate to bring the pH back to normal.

01:22 So that value in the opposite system has to be outside of the normal range in a way that's helpful to bring that pH back to normal 6th step? Just evaluate the O2.

01:33 We're looking for a PaO2 that is within 80 to 100 (mmHg) Okay, so let's do a quick review.

01:41 So you know where you are, whether you're acidosis or alkalosis by looking at the pH.

01:46 You know who got you there, whose fault it is, it's either the lungs controllling CO2 or the kidneys or metabolic system controlling the bicarb.

01:55 Then you look at compensation.

01:57 Is that opposite system acting like a hero? Is it helping that pH get back to within normal? because it's either a respiratory acidosis or alkalosis, metabolic acidosis or alkalosis.