Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Flashcards on respiratory assessment
Respiratory patient assesment final review
Respiratory assessment case study quizlet
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Flashcards on respiratory assessment
Respiratory assessment is a significant aspect of nursing practice. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, respiratory rate is the best indicator of an ill patient and it is the first observation that will demonstrate a problem or deterioration in condition (Philip, Richardson, & Cohen, 2013). When a respiratory assessment performed effectively on a patient, it can result in upholding patient’s comfort and independence in progress of symptom management. Studies have acknowledged that in spite of the importance of the respiratory rate (RR) it is documented rarely than the other vital signs in the hospital settings (Parkes, 2011). This essay will highlight the importance of respiratory assessment and discuss why nurses …show more content…
Ascertaining the adequacy of gaseous exchange is the major purpose of the respiratory assessment. The components of respiratory assessment comprises of rate, rhythm, quality of breathing, degree of effort, cough, skin colour, deformities and mental status (Moore, 2007). RR is a primary indicator among other components that assists health professionals to record the baseline findings of current ventilatory functions and to identify physiological respiratory deterioration. For instance, increased RR (tachypnoea) and tidal volume indicate the body’s attempt to correct hypoxaemia and hypercapnia (Cretikos, Bellomo, Hillman, Chen, Finfer, & Flabouris, 2008). The inclusive use of a respiratory assessment on a patient could lead to numerous potential benefits. Firstly, initial findings of respiratory assessment reveals baseline data of patient’s respiratory functions. Secondly, if the patient is on respiratory medication such as salbutamol and ipratropium bromide, the respiratory assessment enables nurses to measure the effectiveness of medications and patient’s compliance towards those medications (Cretikos, Bellomo, Hillman, Chen, Finfer, & Flabouris, 2008). Thirdly, it facilitates early identification of respiratory complications and it has the potential to reduce the risk of significant clinical …show more content…
Additionally, the clinical staff has shown very low level of confidence in the RR documentation on observation chart. Lack of time, laziness, lack of training and knowledge and unawareness of the importance of the respiratory assessment are main reasons to neglect this important aspect of nursing as stated in this study (Philip, Richardson, & Cohen,
Noticeable indications of deterioration have been shown in numerous patients few hours prior to a critical condition (Jeroen Ludikhuize, et al.2012). Critical condition can be prevented by recognizing and responding to early indications of clinical and physiological deterioration ( kyriacosu, jelsma,&jordan (2011). According to NPSA (2007) delay in responding to deteriorating vital signs have been defined as an complication resulting in prolonged length of stay, disability or death, not attributed to the patient's underlying illness procedure along but by their health-care management ( Baba-Akbari Sari et al. 2006; Helling, Martin, Martin, & Mitchell, 2014). A number of studies demonstrate that changes or alterations in a patient’s
An audit of patient records completed in 2005, revealed a low incidence of respiratory rate recording. An initial audit completed revealed that only 7% of 341 patients had a respiratory rate recording (Butler-Williams 2005). Due to this worrying outcome, the priority was to implement appropriate training to raise respiratory rate significance. Due to the audit being completed hospital wide and with no prior warning, it is an accurate indicator of an overall attitude of practice towards the recording of respiratory rate. Various studies have been conducted in order to gain an understanding as to why this precious sign is so often ignored. Jacqueline Hogan explored the paucity of patient monitoring on acute wards, completing qualitative research using focus groups in 2004. Four major themes were identified, firstly the issue of the nursing workload. Many participants acknowledged the expansion of the nurse’s role and with this added responsibility, the need for delegation of activities such as patient observations. Observations are often delegated to junior staff members such as healthcare assistants and student nurses. Although many nurses admitted to delegating this vital activity, 73% of nurses did not consider healthcare assistants possessed the required knowledge to interpret observational results. With this lack of knowledge comes the absence of appreciation for the completion of such vital signs, and
Featherstone, P., Prytherch, D., Schmidt, P., Smith, G. (2010). ViEWS: towards a national early warning score for detecting adult inpatient deterioration. Resuscitation, 81(8), 932-937.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the primary assessments concluded on patients who are believed to be suffering from cardiac complications. It involves a series of leads attached to the patient which measure the electrical activity of the heart and can be used to detect abnormalities in the heart function. The ECG is virtually always permanently abnormal after an acute myocardial infarction (Julian, Cowan & Mclenachan, 2005). Julies ECG showed an ST segment elevation which is the earliest indication that a myocardial infarction had in fact taken place. The Resuscitation Council (2006) recommends that clinical staff use a systematic approach when assessing and treating an acutely ill patient. Therefore the ABCDE framework would be used to assess Julie. This stands for airways, breathing, circulation, disability and elimination. On admission to A&E staff introduced themselves to Julie and asked her a series of questions about what had happened to which she responded. As she was able to communicate effectively this indicates that her airways are patent. Julie looked extremely pale and short of breath and frequently complained about a feeling of heaviness which radiated from her chest to her left arm. The nurses sat Julie in an upright in order to assess her breathing. The rate of respiration will vary with age and gender. For a healthy adult, respiratory rate of 12-18 breaths per minute is considered to be normal (Blows, 2001). High rates, and especially increasing rates, are markers of illness and a warning that the patient may suddenly deteriorate. Julie’s respiratory rates were recorded to be 21 breaths per minute and regular which can be described as tachypnoea. Julies chest wall appeared to expand equally and symmetrical on each side with each breath taken. Julies SP02 levels which are an estimation of oxygen
Caring for people is my passion. My senior year of high school is when I witnessed my grandmother live on a ventilator for about a week. It awakened a new level of passion in me to care for people with cardiopulmonary problems. The Respiratory Therapy Care profession has intrigued me with how they improve the quality of life in their patients. I will enjoy working closely with patients in addition to working high tech equipment. By entering into this program and graduating out of this program I know that this will satisfy my personal goals for the next five years in many ways. The continues challenges of trying to figure out what’s wrong the heart that day or what’s wrong with the lung the next day will always keep me on my toes. It will always
Vitacca, M., Assoni, G., Pizzocaro, P., Guerra, A., Marchina, L., Scalvini, S., et al. (Writer) (2006). A pilot study of nurse-led, home monitoring for patients with chronic respiratory failure and with mechanical ventilation assistance [Article], Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare.
End tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) monitoring is the non‐invasive measurement of exhaled CO2. ETCO2 monitoring is one of the objective standards set in the Intensive Care Society guidelines 2002 for the transport of the critically ill adult, and is mandated by the American Heart Association in the new pediatric advanced life support guidelines, which state that all intubations must be confirmed by some form of ETCO2 measurement. It can be concluded that the use of capnography monitoring on ALL patients who receive PCA can reduce the incidence of adverse events from IV opioids in the postoperative setting.
The first stage of the nursing process is assessment. This is a continuous process from hospital admission to discharge. It is about compiling objective and subjective information related to patients, through skills of communication, observation and clinical knowledge and interpretation for decision making (Baath 2011). Objective data is collected from past medical records, physical examination and laboratory tests, while subjective data is the client’s views on their state of health (Corkin and Cardwell 2011). This information gives a comprehensive understanding on the health status of the patient. It also develops the basis for care planning and forms the remainder of the whole process, making it a crucial stage (Nazarko 2011).
Decision making in RN’s practice starts with the beginning of a nurse’s day. The nurse must prioritize which patient to access first and which patient to administer medications first, especially in light of upcoming surgeries and procedures. The nurse must also consider patient’s current blood and other test results in order to decide whether it might be necessary to contact the healthcare provider and report any abnormalities. Since the nurse is the person that is the most with the patient during his hospital stay, she is the one that is the most familiar with that patient and his condition. Therefore even a subtle change she notices in her patient’s condition on assessment, can lead to change of treatment which in some cases might save that patient’s life or greatly contribute to the positive o...
Assessment of a patient’s health status is the collection of data through nursing assessment techniques,
Hess Dean R., M. N. (2012). Respiratory Care: Principles and Practice 12th Edition. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Real time feedback was extremely impactful on my assessment skills as I was given the opportunity to immediately correct or tweak portions of my assessment practice. Receiving immediate feedback and continuously having to answer “why questions” from my preceptor, provided me the opportunity to identify gaps in my clinical knowledge on a daily basis. Reflection and incorporate of the feedback was beneficial as it prevented the repeatedly practicing and adoption of incorrect techniques in my physical assessment technique. Assessment skills that are both practical and efficient are vital for nurses in the acute care setting. RN’s in critical care preform comprehensive head to toe assessments in order to “elicit any abnormal signs to identity and correctly report the medical problem.” (Crimlisk & Grande, 2004, p.3) This learning activity increased the efficiency to which I was able to perform accurate assessments. Accurate and well-organized assessment skills assist with time management, completing an assessment correctly the first time saves time, and time is crucial in the ICU. Development of competent assessment skills in a timely manner this semester directly contributed to achieving my overarching
Assessing is the first phase of the nursing process, and it refers to the ones ability of identifying the ongoing nature of the condition. Assessment includes; the collecting of data from the patient or regarding the patient for examples one’s vital signs , the reviewing of the collected information , recognising of the patients problem , and also detecting of the significances among problems. Any information for patients assessment can be retrieved by observing, ques...
Assessment is the accurate collection of comprehensive data pertinent to the patient’s health or the situation (“American Nurses Association,” 2010). Assessment is the first step in the nursing process and the most important. Assessment is the accurate collection of the patient’s health date including both subjective and objective information. Subjective data includes information that can only be described or verified by the patient. This may include chest pain, headache, or body aches. Objective date is data that can be observed and measured. This type of data is obtained using inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation during the physical exam. Objective data can also be provided through diagnostic testing. This is important for proper diagnosis, planning, and intervention. Examples of this may include vital signs, warm and moist skin, and coughing up yellow colored sputum.
This reflection of vital signs will go into discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of each vital sign and the importance of each of them. Vital signs should be assessed many different times such as on admission to a health care facility, before and after something substantial has happened to the patient such as surgery and so forth (ref inter). I learned to assess blood pressure (BP), pulse (P), temperature (T) and respiration (R) and I will reflect and discuss which aspects were more difficult and ways to improve on them. While pulse, respiration and temperature were fairly easy to become skilled at, it was blood pressure which was a bit more difficult to understand.