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,
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