A nurse is counting an 8-month old's respiratory rate. Which is the correct technique?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Assessing respiratory rate can be tricky in a child. It is best do get this measurement without touching or upsetting the child. For a child this young, abdominal excursions are easier to see. The nurse would stand close by and count the abdominal excursions. The nurse would not ask a parent to take the baby's pulse. Putting the baby on the exam table is likely to make the baby cry, which will increase respirations and make them difficult to assess. Placing the stethoscope on the baby's chest likely will startle him or her to some degree, increasing the respiratory rate.

A Nurse Is Counting an 8-Month Old's Respiratory Rate