Certified Respiratory Therapist Practice Exam

To quickly assess a patient's oxygen saturation, which device should be used?

1. Pulse oximeter

2. Bronchoscope

3. Capnometer

4. Blood gas analyzer

The correct answer is: Pulse oximeter

A pulse oximeter is the appropriate device for quickly assessing a patient's oxygen saturation because it is designed specifically to measure the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is saturated with oxygen. This non-invasive tool utilizes light absorption through the skin (often at a fingertip) to determine oxygen levels in seconds, providing immediate feedback without the need for blood sampling. In contrast, a bronchoscope is primarily used for visualizing the airways and can assist in diagnosing or managing airway conditions, but it does not measure oxygen saturation. A capnometer is utilized to measure the concentration of carbon dioxide in exhaled air, which gives information about ventilation but does not assess oxygen saturation directly. Lastly, a blood gas analyzer is a more complex device that analyzes arterial blood samples to provide information about oxygen and carbon dioxide levels as well as acid-base balance, but it is not intended for quick assessments due to the need for blood collection and processing time. Thus, for rapid and straightforward evaluation of oxygen saturation, the pulse oximeter is clearly the most suitable choice.