The nurse is caring for a patient with an acute exacerbation…
The nurse is caring for a patient with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The patient’s oxygen saturation (O2 sats) levels drop to 82% while on oxygen via nasal canula at 2LPM, and the patient is experiencing dyspnea. When the nurse calls the respiratory therapist to administer a nebulizer treatment, he states that he has several more treatments to give, but that he should be there in 15-20 minutes. What is the best action for the RN to take at this time?