A nurse is obtaining vital signs on a client in a clinic. The client's oxygen saturation (SpO2) is 93% on room air while the client is talking during the assessment. Which action should the nurse take next?

Choice A reason: Applying supplemental oxygen is an intervention that requires a definitive assessment of hypoxia. In a clinic setting, an SpO2 of 93% while talking may be a transient reading caused by physical activity or motion artifact. The nurse must first ensure the accuracy of the data before initiating medical therapy. Choice B reason: Documenting a result as abnormal without first verifying its accuracy is premature. Pulse oximetry is highly sensitive to movement and speech, which can interfere with the sensor's ability to maintain a consistent plethysmographic waveform. Verification is a required step in the nursing process before final documentation. Choice C reason: Notifying the healthcare provider is indicated only after a persistent and accurate low oxygen level is confirmed. Jumping to notification before re-evaluating the client under stable conditions—such as while resting and quiet—may lead to unnecessary clinical alarms and potentially incorrect medical interventions based on flawed data. Choice D reason: Talking can cause fluctuations in respiratory depth and motion at the sensor site, leading to an artificially low or inconsistent SpO2 reading. Asking the client to remain still and quiet for a full minute allows the oximeter to stabilize and provide a more accurate reflection of the true arterial oxygen saturation.