Pulse Ox – Nursing Homes
Pulse Ox – Nursing Homes :
Nursing homes throughout the United States are expanding to accommodate the growing baby boomers generation. As days go by, more and more, baby boomers are retiring and getting closer to the age where they must be looked after on a daily basis.
To make sure the elderly are looked after with the utmost care and attention, various technologies are being put into place. Side by side, nursing homes are also expanding their diets, methods and techniques for residents to enjoy their stay there.
One such development is a pulse oximeter, also known as a pulse ox. It has been used by many patients in hospitals and nursing centers throughout the world for decades now. It is portable and very easy to use. A pulse oximeter, when connected to a television set can provide digital images of the blood oxygen saturation level of the patient, and reviews can even be done directly from the portable device.
A pulse oximeter runs on standard leads, and therefore compatibility with most cell phones. The nurses simply connect the oximeter to their television sets in order to view the images in the screen. Newer oximeters use the infrared technology, which provides a continuous stream of readings from the pulse oximeters. Infrared technology has decreased the power consumption of the pulse oximeter by almost 90 percent.
pulsation oximeters can now be carried around easily, and be used at all times inside the nursing home. There is no one time that a nurse needs to use the pulse oximeter. It can monitor data strictly for the nurse’s peace of mind. A pulse ox can be used at all times on the patient, and once a decision is made, the nurse can call for the device to be used in order to monitor vital signs.
Before a pulse oximeter is used at a nursing home, it undergoes rigorous testing and trials.Its accuracy and reliability must be tested for its reliability and effectiveness. The device is connected to a television with a cable. The signal sent through the cable is detected by the machine, and a percentage of the difference between the readings obtained is displayed on the screen.
Nowadays, almost all nursing homes have a pulse oximeter device attached to a nursing home coffee table. Several studies have shown that when the patient is lying down, the oxygen saturation differs by only 0.1 percentage point. When the patient is up or sitting up, the difference is 5 percentage points. L pillows are sold separately from the machines, and for a comfortable use. Most nurses prefer to use a pillow when a patient is sleeping.
There are specific reasons for using a pulsating machine as opposed to a continuous oximeter. The pulse oximeter works based on pulsating currents, whereas continuous oximeters rely on continuous readings. The motion of the hand can adjust the temperature of the patient’s blood levels, and thus, obtain a more accurate result.