Oxygen saturation targets
Healthy adult : 95–100 % on room air. Severe COPD with CO2 retention : 88–92 %. Acute illness without retention risk : 92–96 %. Palliative care : comfort guides the target, not the number In COPD, a saturation of 97 % on high-flow oxygen is a warning sign of over-oxygenation, not reassurance. Use this sheet in spaced repetition, pair it with a matching clinical scenario on NursEduc, and always compare values to the person's baseline before drawing conclusions. essential vital signs monitoring landmarks a nurse or licensed practical nurse in Quebec should keep in mind for clinical practice and for succeeding on the OIIQ or OIIAQ entry exam. Vital sign interpretation — accounting for age and context — is central to the clinical judgment assessed by the OIIQ.