Re: My first patient. HELP!

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi! Im cathy, new user here and i cant find exact forum about RR. So i decided to post here because it relates about my first patient. I have difficulty getting the RR when the patient is talking. I cant see the up and down on her chest while she is talking to a doctor. But when the patient is relax or quiet i can easily see the up and down of her chest. Can you give some advice so i can have an accurate documentation..??? pls.. thanks.. :)

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Our teacher told us to pretend we are taking the pulse, but instead we are watching the chest. If the patient starts talking you would tell them to hold on and relax for a minute as it won't take very long.

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Specializes in Medical.

In adults, for the most part the exact number (sixteen or eighteen, say) doesn't really matter - I tend to match my rate of breathing to the patient's while I'm checking their pulse and blood pressure - if I don't feel comfortable then I check the resp rate the same way JBRN2B suggested.

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Specializes in Coronary Rehab Unit.
Our teacher told us to pretend we are taking the pulse, but instead we are watching the chest. If the patient starts talking you would tell them to hold on and relax for a minute as it won't take very long.
Yup, that's what we were taught as well .... works well, quite actually. I never even attempt to count rr if the pt is talking.....
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Our instructors told us to pretend we are taking the pulse and pull the arm across the chest, so you can see and feel the respirations.

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Thanks for some advices. I will try to do it so i can find out whats the easy way for me in taking the rr. thanks again.:)

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Our instructors told us to pretend we are taking the pulse and pull the arm across the chest, so you can see and feel the respirations.

I've never thought of that before and no one's ever suggested that to me! Great advice!

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

What I do, is tell the patient that I need to feel their pulse on their chest (apical), I put my hand on their chest and then I count the pulse for 30 seconds (if regular, 1 minute if irregular), and then I count their RR.

If you tell them you are counting respirations, they will breathe differently.

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