If a patient shows signs of respiratory fatigue and low oxygen levels, which action should be taken at once?

When a patient exhibits signs of respiratory fatigue and low oxygen levels, providing positive pressure ventilation is a crucial immediate intervention. This method delivers air directly into the lungs, helping to increase the airway pressure and aid in diminishing the work of breathing. It serves as an effective means of ensuring adequate ventilation, thus enhancing oxygenation despite the patient's weakened respiratory drive. By assisting the patient in this way, you can help stabilize their condition and prevent further deterioration.

Placing the patient in a supine position may not effectively address their respiratory needs and could even lead to further complications in certain circumstances, especially if there are concerns about airway patency. Encouraging deep inhalations might prove difficult for someone demonstrating respiratory fatigue; it could lead to further fatigue or anxiety instead of providing relief. Conducting a thorough physical examination, while important, would not be appropriate or effective as an immediate action in a situation requiring urgent attention to the patient’s breathing and oxygenation. Thus, the priority in this scenario is to ensure the patient receives the necessary ventilation support right away.