Question

A 1-month-old infant admitted to the emergency department in respiratory distress exhibits a regular pattern of breathing followed by brief periods of apnea, then tachypnea for a short time, eventually returning to a normal respiratory rate. The nurse documents this finding as:

A) Hypoventilation
B) Hyperventilation
C) Periodic breathing
D) Stridor

Answer 1

Periodic breathing

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse would document this finding as Periodic breathing. Periodic breathing is a common respiratory pattern in newborns, characterized by regular breathing followed by brief periods of apnea, tachypnea, and then returning to a normal respiratory rate. It is a normal physiological process in infants and typically resolves on its own by around 6 months of age.