Using pulse oximetry in the home

As complex patients require more sophisticated nursing care and equipment to stay at home, home care nurses must be able to make detailed, objective assessments. Pulse oximetry provides a tool to objectively assess oxygenation in the home. This article reviews how pulse oximetry works, how to interpret the results based on the patient's blood oxygen-carrying capacity, and technical aspects of using pulse oximetry in the home, including sources of inaccuracy in measurements and basic troubleshooting. These pulse oximetry principles are applied in the home care setting in three case studies.