When providing oxygen therapy, which vital signs should be monitored continuously?

Monitoring heart and respiratory rates continuously during oxygen therapy is crucial as these vital signs provide immediate insight into a patient’s respiratory efficiency and overall physiological response to the therapy.

Heart rate can indicate changes in cardiovascular status, which may be affected by oxygen delivery and the body’s demand for oxygen. A significant fluctuation in heart rate can signal distress or improvement in a patient's condition. Similarly, respiratory rate gives direct information regarding a patient’s ventilation status and the body's ability to maintain adequate oxygenation and carbon dioxide elimination.

Together, these vital signs help healthcare providers assess the effectiveness of the oxygen therapy and determine whether adjustments are necessary to optimize the patient's care. Monitoring other parameters like blood pressure and temperature, while important in specific contexts, is not as directly related to the immediate effects of oxygen therapy. Likewise, while oxygen saturation is essential, it does not provide a complete picture of the patient's overall status without considering heart and respiratory rates.