A female patient with a history of asthma called 911 with a complaint of shortness of breath. On scene, you assisted her with the administration of her metered dose inhaler containing albuterol. Which one of the following interventions will you use to best determine if the patient is improving or not?

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Pulse oximetry readings every 3 minutes will allow you to monitor the patient's oxygen saturation levels and determine if they are improving or not. Asking the patient if they find it easier to breathe or if they need another dose of albuterol may be subjective and unreliable. Re-obtaining a SAMPLE history is important, but not the best way to determine if the patient is improving in this situation.

A Female Patient with a History of Asthma Called 911