how can altered breathing be a diagnosis for minute ventiliation?

vashtee, RN · Mar 7, 2009

I don't understand what you are asking exactly, but I think what you mean by "minute ventilation" is that there is a reduced amount of air that can be inhaled or exhaled with each breath. The body has a need for a minimum amount of oxygen intake and the need to rid itself of carbon dioxide. If you can't breathe normally (because for example, you have broken ribs and the pain of breathing is causing you to breathe more shallow than normal), your respiratory rate will increase to compensate for the shallow breaths. Increased respiratory rates are one form of an altered breathing pattern.

Make sense?

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2009

i dont get what the s/s of minute ventilation would be to have a an altered breathing pattern d

minute ventilation is tidal volume * respiratory rate.

Think about what would happen to the minute ventilation if you play with either of these two variables.

CABG patch kid, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2009

Please don't take this as being rude, but I've noticed you are asking some homework/school sounding questions, and I just wanted to make sure you are participating in some type of study group or at least have a few classmates you can meet with and help each other out. That is really important! Also, make sure you take time after class to ask your instructor any questions you have about the lecture/clinical, whatever it is. It's their job to help you understand. Not to be mean here but I remember reading that you've failed second semester of nursing school. You need a good understanding of the material to pass, this isn't stuff you can just memorize for a test and then forget. This material is what you will build your career on.

Like I said before, please don't take it as me being mean here, I just think that this message board isn't really adequate for tutoring and homework questions (aside from the very occasional, just-clearing-something-up kind of questions where you already understand the basics and just need additional clarification). I'm sorry but the way you are wording some of your questions here just leads me to believe you still need a better grasp of the material and could benefit from some one-on-one with a senior nursing student.