Given the blood gas and CO-oximeter results indicating conflicting oxygen saturation values, what should the respiratory therapist do?

When encountering conflicting oxygen saturation values from blood gas and CO-oximeter results, performing a calibration of the instrument and repeating the analysis is the appropriate course of action. This step is crucial because discrepancies may arise from a malfunctioning or improperly calibrated device, leading to inaccurate readings. Ensuring that the equipment is accurately calibrated helps to confirm the true oxygen levels in the patient’s blood, which is vital for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

In the context of patient care, relying on inaccurate data could compromise a patient's treatment plan, especially in critical care settings. Therefore, recalibrating the instrument provides a secondary verification to make sure that the clinician interprets the data correctly and administers the most effective care based on accurate measurements.