IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS) e-ISSN: 2320–1959.p- ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 5, Issue 2 Ver. I (Mar. - Apr. 2016), PP 85-94 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/1959-05218594 www.iosrjournals.org 85 | Page Oxygen Desaturation and Nursing Practices in Critically Ill Patients Hayam Ibrahim Asfour Critical Care and Emergency Nursing, Department of Critical Care and Emergency Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alexandria, Egypt. Faculty of Nursing, Umm Al-Qura University, KSA Abstract Background: With the goal of optimizing tissue perfusion and maintaining adequate oxygen delivery, nurses play an important role in monitoring oxygenation and ventilation. Nursing practices may affect oxygen saturation in critically ill patients. Aim of study was to determine the relationship between nursing practices and oxygen desaturation in critically ill patients. Design: A descriptive research design was used in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at the Critical Care Units (CCUs) of two selected Hospitals at Makah Al- Mukaramah, KSA. Subjects; a convenience sample of 100 newly admitted critically ill patients were included in the study. Tool of data collection was the relationship between nursing practices and oxygen desaturation in critically ill patients’ tool. It consists of two parts: Part 1; nursing practices observation checklists and part 2; oxygen saturation monitoring record. Results: It was noted that in 67% of observations, patients had their position changed by nurses once per shift, no patients had hyperoxygenation during suctioning. In addition, there were significant correlation between oxygen desaturation during, and after bathing (r .403, p.000, r .342, p .000). Conclusion; nursing practices mainly suctioning, positioning and bathing affect oxygen desaturation in critically ill patients. There were significant relationships between oxygen desaturation and the procedures performed as oxygen saturation decreased during and after certain performed procedures especially suctioning. Recommendations: Protocols should be developed regarding oxygen desaturation in critically ill patients. Adequate supervision should be provided on nurses during their practice. Key words: Nursing practices - oxygen desaturation- critically ill patients. I. Introduction Critical care units (CCUs) are special departments in hospitals that provide care to patients with the most severe and life-threatening illnesses and injuries, which require constant, close invasive monitoring and support from specialist, equipment and medication in order to ensure normal body functions. Critical care nurses (CCNs) are responsible for the identification, intervention and management of clinical problems to improve care for patients and families. Foremost, CCNs are patients advocate. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) defines advocacy as respecting and supporting the basic values, rights and beliefs of critically ill patients. In this role, critical care nurses safeguard the quality of care the patient receives and prevent the occurrence of potential complications (1-3) . A crucial goal in the care of critical patients is the maintenance, optimization of cellular, and organ health. Cellular health relies on aerobic metabolism to release energy. Oxygen saturation is an indicator of the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen at the time of the measurement. Oxygen desaturation (O 2 saturation < 95 %) occurs when tissue oxygen delivery is low enough to cause abnormal function. Tissue oxygenation depends on the arterial oxygen content of blood and the delivery of the blood to the tissues (perfusion). These are vital components to cellular health and monitoring of these components provides the health care team with a means to assess patients' status, and thus guide appropriate management ―what one can measure, one can manage‖ (4) . The more critically ill patients are, the more likely to be highly vulnerable, unstable and complex, thereby requiring intense and vigilant nursing care. CCUs' patients may develop oxygen desaturation during their hospital stay (5,6) . During hospitalization, maintaining oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) is critical to the safety of patients. Patients are at risk for dysrhythmia, hemodynamic decomposition, hypoxic brain injury and death when desaturation below 70%. Critically Ill Patients with and without respiratory disorders may develop oxygen desaturation during their hospital stay. Many researchers reported the link between oxygen desaturation and