S(p)O(2) values in acute medical admissions breathing air--implications for the British Thoracic Society guideline for emergency oxygen use in adult patients?

S(p)O(2) is routinely used to assess the well-being of patients, but it is difficult to find an evidence-based description of its normal range. The British Thoracic Society (BTS) has published guidance for oxygen administration and recommends a target S(p)O(2) of 94-98% for most adult patients. These recommendations rely on consensus opinion and small studies using arterial blood gas measurements of saturation (S(a)O(2)).

How to keep score of acuity and dependency.

This article describes how the introduction of an acuity and dependency tool at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust has provided nurses with a structure for gathering evidence about patient care levels, and discusses how this information is shared throughout the trust to improve patient outcomes and safety.