Pulse Oximetry: What Impacts Accuracy
Course Overview
Pulse oximetry is a standard tool in healthcare, yet research has revealed that its accuracy may be compromised in patients with darker skin tones. This segment reviews how pulse oximeters function, why light absorption is critical, and how skin pigmentation can interfere with readings. Listeners will gain insight into the clinical impact of occult hypoxemia, the historical oversight in device validation, and how these inaccuracies contribute to health disparities. Scientific findings and expert perspectives highlight the urgent need for awareness and reform.
Solutions to bias in pulse oximetry require collaboration between clinicians, manufacturers, and regulatory bodies. This segment presents practical strategies for healthcare professionals to identify and address inaccuracies in oxygen saturation readings. It also discusses advancements in device technology, the need for updated FDA oversight, and broader efforts to eliminate algorithmic bias in healthcare tools. Emphasis is placed on advocacy, inclusive design, and the role of providers in promoting equitable care.
Listen, Learn, and Earn CE Hours with this podcast course. Available on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast apps.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Recognize how pulse oximetry works and why skin pigmentation can affect its accuracy.
- Analyze the clinical implications of inaccurate oxygen saturation readings across diverse populations.
- Identify strategies healthcare professionals can use to mitigate bias and improve outcomes.
About the Author/Presenter
Candace Pierce: DNP, MSN, RN, CNE
Dr. Candace Pierce is a nurse leader committed to ensuring nurses are well prepared and offered abundant opportunities and resources to enhance their skills acquisition and confidence at the bedside. With 15 years in nursing, she has worked at the bedside, in management, and in nursing education. She has demonstrated expertise and scholarship in innovation and design thinking in healthcare and education, and collaborative efforts within and outside of healthcare. Scholarship endeavors include funded grants, publications, and presentations. As a leader, Dr. PIERCE: strives to empower others to create and deploy ideas and embrace their professional roles as leaders, change agents, and problem solvers. In her position as the Sr. Course Development Manager for Elite, she works as a project engineer with subject matter experts to develop evidence-based best practices in continuing education for nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Donya L. Winters, RN, CLNC
Donya Winters is a Texas-based Registered Nurse and Certified Legal Nurse Consultant with multi-state licensure and over a decade of bedside experience. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served on the front lines in a small-town Texas hospital, providing acute and end-of-life care under extreme conditions. Her firsthand experience with systemic failures and moral injury has shaped her ongoing advocacy for healthcare equity and reform. Donya currently consults on complex medical-legal cases, including wrongful death, sepsis, and large-scale toxic exposure litigation such as the Camp Lejeune water contamination cases. She is completing her master’s degree with plans to pursue a doctorate in Forensic Nursing. She is also the author of The Virus (in submission), a memoir chronicling the emotional toll and ethical battles of pandemic nursing.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Nursing
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
