Week 2: Vital Signs - Respiration

Question 1

What factors measure respirations (R or RR)? (3)

Answer 1

• Rate
• Rhythm
• Effort/WOB

Question 2

What is respiratory rate? (2)

Answer 2

• Count the number of breaths per minute
• variations with age

Question 3

what is rhythm? (3)

Answer 3

• regular and even (rate and volume)
• normal to have periodic sigh
• normal to have minor fluctuation (even rhythmic) of rate and volume

Question 4

What is effort? (2)

Answer 4

• comfortable, quiet, seemingly effortless, not aware of breathing
• 1:2 ratio

Question 5

What is the ratio between Inspiration (active) and expiration (passive)? (2)

Answer 5

• Inspiration < expiration
• 1:2 ratio

Question 6

What is tachypnea?

Answer 6

• rapid, shallow respiration (30 sec)

Question 7

What is bradypnea?

Answer 7

• slow, normal volume
• less than 10/min

Question 8

What is the normal respiration rate?

Answer 8

10-20 (full inspiration and expiration)

Question 9

What is the RR rates for:
1) newborns
2) 4 years
3) 10 years
4) 18 years

Answer 9

1) newborns - 30-40
2) 4 years - 23-30
3) 10 years - 20 - 26
4) 18 years - 16-20

Question 10

What is the ratio between pulse and respiratory rate?

Answer 10

4:1 ratio
- rule of thumb, many exceptions

Question 11

What is dyspnea?

Answer 11

• difficulty or uncomfortable breathing

Question 12

What is SOB? (2)

Answer 12

shortness of breath
- panting usually with high RR rate

Question 13

What is air hunger? (2)

Answer 13

Sensation of not having enough oxygen
- gasping

Question 14

what is increased work of breathing (WOB)? (4)

Answer 14

• aware of breathing and requiring exertion
• laboured breathing
• more of a 1:1 ratio
• objective

Question 15

how do you count respirations? (4)

Answer 15

• Watch your field of patients chest rise and fall
• How fast they are breathing =RATE
• Check effort (depth) of breathing
• Check pattern of breathing = rhythm

Question 16

What is normal effort of breathing? Decreased? Increased?

Answer 16

normal - easy chest rise and fall (effortless, mindless breathing)
Decreased - hypoventilation
Increased - hyperventilation

Question 17

normal patterns of breathing, also known as rhythm, looks even and regular. Give one example of an instance where a patient might have irregular breathing.

Answer 17

cheyne-strokes respirations