Patient CareQuestion 3 of 100
To obtain the most accurate respiratory rate, what should the medical assistant do?
a.Count respirations for a full minute without telling the patient it is being measured
b.Tell the patient to breathe normally and then count for 15 seconds
c.Ask the patient to report how many breaths they take per minute
d.Count only the exhalations for 30 seconds and record that number
Explanation
Breathing is partly under voluntary control, so patients often alter their pattern if they know it is being counted; counting discreetly for a full 60 seconds, often while still appearing to hold the wrist, gives the most accurate rate. Announcing the measurement invites the patient to change the pattern. A patient's self-report is unreliable, and counting only exhalations for 30 seconds halves the observation window and increases error.
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