A patient presents with decreased oxygen saturation and wheezing. What important assessment should be performed next?

Auscultating lung sounds is crucial in this scenario as it allows for the direct evaluation of the patient's airway and lung function. When presented with decreased oxygen saturation and wheezing, the primary concern is often related to airway obstruction or bronchospasm, which can be indicative of conditions such as asthma or COPD exacerbation.

By listening to lung sounds, you can identify the presence and severity of wheezing, crackles, or other abnormal sounds that indicate respiratory distress. This assessment can guide treatment decisions, such as the need for bronchodilators or other interventions necessary to alleviate the patient's condition.

In contrast, while checking for tracheal deviation is important in certain contexts (e.g., when suspecting tension pneumothorax), it is not the immediate priority when wheezing and low oxygen saturation are present. Determining the respiratory rate is helpful but does not provide the same level of diagnostic information regarding the underlying cause of the wheezing as auscultation does. Performing a blood glucose check is relevant for conditions like diabetic emergencies but does not pertain to the patient's current respiratory issues. Thus, auscultation of lung sounds is the most relevant and informative assessment to perform next.