Question

The charge nurse is teaching a new nurse about the body's regulation of respirations and respiratory assessment. Which statement by the new nurse indicates a need for further teaching by the charge nurse?

1) "In order for the body to have adequate oxygenation the body needs a healthy and intact respiratory system."
2) "The chest wall effortlessly rises and falls with each breath."
3) "Respiratory rate is the continuous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs."
4) D. "To accurately assess the respiratory rate I should not tell the client I am assessing their respiratory rate."

Answer 1

The incorrect statement by the new nurse is that 'Respiratory rate is the continuous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs.' It should be clarified that respiratory rate refers to the total number of breaths taken per minute, while the exchange of gases is a related but separate process.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement by the new nurse that indicates a need for further teaching by the charge nurse is "Respiratory rate is the continuous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs." This statement is incorrect because the respiratory rate refers to the number of breaths per minute, not the exchange of gases itself. The continuous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is a separate process that occurs during each breath in the alveoli of the lungs, where gas exchange takes place thanks to differences in partial pressures of gases according to Dalton's law and Henry's law.

It is also important to highlight that an accurate way to assess respiratory rate is indeed to observe a patient without informing them, as their awareness might alter their natural breathing pattern. This method helps in preventing any conscious changes in the patient's breathing rate that might occur if they know they are being observed.