A nurse is preparing to perform passive range of motion exercises for a client who is immobile. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

A. Check the client's medical records to see which medications were recently administered:
While reviewing medications is important for understanding potential causes of hypoxia, it is not the immediate priority when a client’s oxygen saturation is low. Immediate assessment and intervention to improve oxygenation come first.

B. Notify the charge nurse of the client's condition: Notifying the charge nurse is important but should follow an initial assessment and attempt to address the problem. Immediate client reassessment takes precedence to determine the current status and possible interventions.

C. Review the client's most recent SaO2 level in the medical record: Checking prior oxygen saturation levels can provide context but does not directly address the acute finding of 88% saturation, which requires prompt evaluation and action.

D. Recheck the client's SaO2 level after having the client cough and clear their throat: This action directly addresses a common cause of transient hypoxia such as airway obstruction from secretions. Reassessment after clearing the airway is the priority to determine if oxygenation improves before escalating interventions.

A. Prick the side of the client's finger: Pricking the side (lateral aspect) of the fingertip reduces discomfort and provides good blood flow compared to the center of the finger, making it the preferred site for capillary blood sampling.

B. Squeeze the client’s finger until a blood drop forms: Squeezing or "milking" the finger vigorously after the prick can cause hemolysis (rupture of red blood cells) and dilute the specimen with interstitial fluid. This can lead to inaccurate results.

C. Elevate the client’s hand above the level of the heart: Elevating the hand above heart level can reduce blood flow to the finger, making it harder to obtain an adequate sample. The hand should be positioned at or slightly below heart level.

D. Apply clean gloves: Wearing clean gloves protects both the client and nurse from exposure to bloodborne pathogens and maintains infection control standards.

E. Cleanse the client’s finger with an iodine swab: Iodine is not typically used for capillary puncture site cleansing due to potential skin irritation and interference with some tests. An alcohol swab is preferred for cleaning before puncture.