Final answer:
A pulse oximeter will not function correctly if the patient is wearing gloves, as they can block the light necessary for measuring oxygen saturation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pulse oximeter, a device that measures the amount of oxygen in blood and can indicate a person's metabolic rate, will not function properly if the patient is wearing gloves. The device typically attaches to a translucent part of the body, usually a fingertip or earlobe, to measure oxygen saturation using light. Gloves can interfere with this process by blocking the light path and preventing an accurate reading.