Question

The nurse plans to assess a patient's respiratory rate; however, the patient has just returned from ambulating to the bathroom. What should the nurse do to minimize the effect of exercise on the patient's respiratory rate?

a. Assess the pulse for a full 60 seconds before assessing respiration.
b. Encourage the patient to rest for 10 minutes before assessing respiration.
c. Compare the postexercise respiratory rate with his baseline findings.
d. Compare the postexercise findings with the previous at-rest findings

Answer 1

The nurse should encourage the patient to rest for 10 minutes before assessing the respiratory rate to ensure an accurate measurement that reflects the patient's normal respiratory function at rest.

Step-by-step explanation:

To minimize the effect of exercise on the patient's respiratory rate, the nurse should encourage the patient to rest for 10 minutes before assessing respiration. This rest period allows the patient's respiratory rate to return to its baseline state, providing a more accurate assessment post-exertion. It's important to recognize that ambulation can temporarily increase respiratory rate due to the body's increased demand for oxygen and subsequent higher carbon dioxide production. This physiological response is moderated by the respiratory center within the medulla oblongata, which adjusts the breathing rate in response to levels of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and pH in the blood.

The average respiratory rate for a healthy adult at rest is between 12-15 breaths per minute, whereas for children and infants, the rate is higher. Assessing the respiratory rate after activity without allowing for rest could result in inaccuracies and misinterpretation of the patient's normal respiratory function. Thus, assessing post-exercise findings against baseline respiratory rates is crucial for proper evaluations. After rest, a comparison with previous at-rest findings can also be made for further accuracy.