What is the most appropriate treatment for a 60-year-old woman experiencing acute respiratory distress with an oxygen saturation of 84%?

Providing supplemental oxygen with a nonrebreathing mask is the most appropriate treatment for a patient experiencing acute respiratory distress and an oxygen saturation of 84%. In this situation, the primary goal is to quickly increase the oxygen levels in the bloodstream. A nonrebreathing mask is effective because it delivers high-flow oxygen (usually around 10-15 liters per minute) and allows for minimal room air to enter, providing a high concentration of oxygen to the patient.

This treatment is particularly suitable for acute scenarios where the patient's breathing might not be adequate to maintain appropriate oxygenation levels. At an oxygen saturation of 84%, the patient is at risk of hypoxemia, and quick intervention is critical to ensure sufficient oxygen is delivered.

While other interventions, such as inhaler administration or CPAP therapy, may have roles in certain circumstances of respiratory distress, they are typically not the first-line treatments in this acute setting, particularly with such low oxygen saturation. Inhalers are more targeted for specific respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD exacerbations and may not provide the immediate oxygenation required. Likewise, CPAP can assist in certain types of respiratory distress, particularly related to conditions such as congestive heart failure; however, it requires the patient to have a certain