Breathing

Question 1

Questions to think about during breathing assessment

Answer 1

• Chest rising and falling symmetrically
• Skin temperature
• Colour of skin and lips ( is it blue)?

Question 2

What three things are needed when assessing breathing

Answer 2

1. Look (inspection)
2. Listen (Auscultation)
3. Feel (palpation)

Question 3

Look / Inspection

Answer 3

• Bilateral chest movement. Is their chest expanding and contracting at same time?
• Blue skin or normal. Blue skin= hypoxia

Question 4

Listen/ Auscultation

Answer 4

Use stethoscope.

are there any:
Crackles
Weeze
Pleural Rub

Question 5

Feel/ Palpation

Answer 5

Touch patient, feel for symmetrical rise and fall of chest. (butterfly thing)
Temp of skin (indicates good perfusion)
Count RR for 1 min

Question 6

When patients are struggling to breathe they may use accessory muscles. e.g include

Answer 6

Head Bobbing
Head Position – tilting back
Nasal Flaring
Mouth Gasping
Tracheal Tug
Shoulder Shrugging
Intercostal Recession
Subcostal Recession
Sternal Recession
Abdominal Muscle Use ‘Belly Breathing’

Question 7

Can also use percussion for feel

Answer 7

Place middle finger of non-dominant
hand flat on the patients body then tap
the distal joint with middle finger of other
hand.

Resonance – compare the 2 sides

Used to detect air, fluid and masses