A 60-year-old woman is tachypneic and has marked dyspnea on exertion. Her oxygen saturation is 97% via a pulse oximeter (SpO2) on her finger. Is it possible for this patient to be hypoxic?
A. No; since the pulse oximeter reads 97%, she cannot be hypoxic.
B. No, because pulse oximeters are just as reliable as measurement of SaO2 in the laboratory.
C. Yes; pulse oximeters may differ by as much as 25% when compared to actual measurement of SaO2.
D. Yes; the patient may have been exposed to carbon monoxide.
E. Yes; her white nail polish may result in an elevated SpO2 reading.