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

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

3. RESPIRATORY RATE ADULTS: 14-18 BREATHS PER MINUTE
WIDER ADULT RANGE: BREATHS PER MINUTE
CHILDREN: PER MINUTE
INFANTS: PER MINUTE

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

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

6. 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

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

8. 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

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