RESPIRATION PROCESS OF TAKING IN OXYGEN AND EXPELLING CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE LUNGS AND RESPIRATORY TRACT

RESPIRATION CONSIST OF ONE INSPIRATION (BREATHING IN)AND ONE EXPIRATION (BREATHING OUT)

RESPIRATORY RATE ADULTS: 14-18 BREATHS PER MINUTE WIDER ADULT RANGE: 12-20 BREATHS PER MINUTE CHILDREN: 16-25 PER MINUTE INFANTS: 30-50 PER MINUTE

CHARACTER OF RESPIRATIONS REFERS TO DEPTH AND QUALITY OR RESPIRATIONS DESCRIBED BY WORDS: DEEP, SHALLOW, LABORED, MOIST, DIFFICULT, STERTOROUS(Abnormal sounds like snoring)

RHYTHM OF RESPIRATION REFERS TO THE REGULARITY OR EQUAL SPACING BETWEEN BREATHS REGULAR OR EVEN OR IRREGULAR

ABNORMAL RESPIRATIONS DYSPNEA: DIFFICULT OR LABORED BREATHING APNEA: ABSENCE OF RESPIRATIONS CHEYNE-STOKES: PERIODS OF APNEA; FREQUENTLY NOTED IN DYING PATIENT RALES: BUBBLING OR NOISY SOUNDS CAUSED BY FLUIDS OR MUCUS IN THE AIR PASSAGES

VOLUNTARY CONTROL OR RESPIRATIONS RESPIRATIONS ARE PARTIALLY UNDER VOLUNTARY CONTROL PATIENTS MAY BREATHE FASTER OR SLOWER WHEN THEY ARE AWARE RESPIRATIONS ARE BEING COUNTED

CONTROL OF RESPIRATIONS CONTINUED IMPORTANT TO KEEP PATIENT UNAWARE OF THIS PROCEDURE DON’T TELL PATIENT YOU ARE COUNTING RESPIRATIONS KEEP YOU HAND ON PULSE SITE WHILE MEASURING RESPIRATIONS

RECORD ALL INFORMATION INCLUDE RATE, CHARACTER, AND RHYTHM EXAMPLE: 12/1/98 8:55AM R18 DEEP AND REGULAR, YOUR SIGNATURE AND TITLE