Final answer:
The medical term for a respiration rate above 20 breaths per minute is tachypnea, which may indicate a compensatory response to various conditions affecting oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
A resident has respirations of 32 breaths per minute (bpm). This respiratory rate is higher than the average for a healthy resting adult, which is between 12 to 18 breaths per minute. The medical term for a respiration rate above 20 bpm is tachypnea. Tachypnea can indicate that the body is trying to get rid of excess carbon dioxide or compensate for a low oxygen level in the blood. It's commonly seen in various conditions, such as infections, heart failure, lung diseases, or after intense physical activity. Since the respiratory rate is controlled by the respiratory center within the medulla oblongata of the brain, this increase can be due to the body's response to changes in carbon dioxide, oxygen, and pH levels.