Respiration
Sravika, Pragna, and Soujanya
The Basics Of Respiration 123
What is respiration?
Respiration is the number of breaths a person takes per minute.
How do you record respiration?
- Knock on the door or the bed to let the person know that you are there.
- Tell them your name and why you are there. Ex. "Hi I'm Doctor ______. I'm here to record your respirations for testing purposes only.
- Wash hands thoroughly
- Make sure that the patient is in a well rested position
- Check the clock to get a starting time
- Say "Start"
- Count the number of times the chest rises and falls for a minute.
- When one minute is up, say "Stop"
- Wash hands thoroughly
- Record measurements within 1-2 breaths plus or minus.
**If the patient is sick, make sure to have them wear a face mask.
CNA ESSENTIAL SKILLS - Count and Record Respirations (2:09)
Normal Statistics
6 months: 25-40 breaths per minute
3 years: 20-30 breaths per minute
6 years: 20-30 breaths per minute
10 years: 15-20 breaths per minute
Adult: 12-20 breaths per minute
What does respiration show?
- Respiration rates increase when a person is sick, so checking the rates and comparing may show if a fever is there or not.
- Illness and other medical conditions might also increase respiration.
- Helps note whether a person has breathing difficulties.
- A person with an abnormal respiration rate must visit a doctor to get a check up.
Vital Sign
Respiration is considered a vital sign because it helps recognize illness and other medical conditions that need to be brought to attention. Basically, respiration helps a doctor understand if the patient is fine or not.