How to Count a Respiratory Rate

Introduction

• Presenter: Sarah from RegisteredNurseRN.com
• Purpose: Demonstrate how to count a respiratory rate, a vital skill for nurses and nursing assistants.

Basics of Respiratory Rate

• Key Components:
  • Rhythm: Check if breathing is regular or irregular.
  • Phases:
    • Inspiratory Phase: When the patient inhales.
    • Expiratory Phase: When the patient exhales.
  • Balance: Ensure inspiratory and expiratory phases are equal.
    • Note: In conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the expiratory phase might be longer.

Observing Breathing Effort

• Assess if the patient has difficulty breathing or is breathing effortlessly.
• Dyspnea: Look for signs such as gasping or labored breathing.

Counting the Respiratory Rate

• Normal Range for Adults: 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
• Method:
  • Measure radial pulse for 30 seconds.
  • While holding the pulse, observe chest movements (rise and fall = one breath).
  • Count breaths for 30 seconds and multiply by two for the rate per minute.
  • Note: Holding the pulse while counting prevents the patient from altering their breathing pattern.

Practical Demonstration

• Scenario:
  • Greet the patient: "Hi, my name is Sarah, and I'm going to be your nurse today."
  • Inflate the patient: "I'm going to take your Vital Signs, is that okay with you?"
  • Hand Hygiene: Perform before touching the patient.
  • Procedure:
    • Feel the radial pulse.
    • Count and note the pulse rate and the respiratory rate.
• Example Rates: Pulse rate: 70, Respiratory rate: 20.

Conclusion

• Additional Resources:
  • Watch other videos on nursing skills on Sarah's channel.
  • Consider subscribing for more nursing tutorials.

These notes provide a high-level summary of the process and considerations involved in counting respiratory rates effectively as a nursing professional.