NCLEX Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) Practice Exam

When a patient's partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) falls to a level between 70-77 mmHg, this indicates significant hypoxemia, which can lead to serious complications if not addressed promptly. The immediate priority in this situation is to assess the patient's respiratory status and provide supplemental oxygen to correct the inadequate oxygenation.

Assessing for breathing is crucial because it allows the nurse to evaluate the effectiveness of the patient's respiratory effort and identify any potential issues such as airway obstruction, respiratory distress, or altered mental status that could compromise oxygenation. Administering oxygen is vital to quickly increase the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream, helping to prevent further decline in the patient's condition and mitigating the risk of organ damage due to hypoxia.

In contrast, increasing fluid intake does not directly address hypoxemia and may not be beneficial in this context. While bronchodilators can be helpful in certain respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD, they do not directly resolve hypoxemia in the absence of obstructive airway disease. Preparing for intubation is a more invasive intervention that may be necessary if the patient shows signs of respiratory failure or fails to respond to less invasive measures, but it is not the immediate action to take. The focus should first be on