General Nursing (RGN)
Checking and Recording of Respiration
Observation and documentation of respiratory rate, rhythm, depth and character to assess respiratory status.
Purpose
- Determine respiratory rate.
- Assess rhythm and depth.
- Identify abnormal respiratory patterns and sounds.
- Monitor respiratory status.
Indications
- Routine monitoring of vital signs.
- Patients with respiratory symptoms.
- Monitoring response to treatment.
- Patients requiring regular respiratory assessment.
Equipment
- Watch with second hand
- Respiration/vital signs chart (Manual or electronic)
- Pen
Procedure steps
- Perform hand hygiene.
- Position patient comfortably without informing patient directly that respiration is being counted.
- Observe rise and fall of chest/abdomen.
- Count one rise and one fall as one respiration.
- Count respirations for a full minute.
- Note rhythm, depth and abnormal sounds such as wheezing or stridor.
- Record respiration rate, rhythm and character with date and time.
- Perform hand hygiene.
- Report abnormal findings.
Precautions
- Avoid unnecessarily altering the patient's natural breathing pattern.
- Count respirations accurately.
- Assess rate, rhythm, depth and character.
- Observe for abnormal respiratory sounds.
- Report abnormal findings promptly.
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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