No matter what kind of nurse you are – triage, paediatric, emergency, ICU or even mental health – the skills to perform a thorough patient assessment are a vital component of good nursing practice. Show
And essential to this assessment is to effectively evaluate a patient’s breathing. Signs of respiratory failure are a key indicator for escalation of care. As a nurse you need to know optimum respiratory function and be able to recognise signs of deterioration to care for your patient safely. Subscribe for FREE to the HealthTimes magazine A respiratory assessment is the first step towards identifying if, and how soon, you need a doctor to review your patient, or if you need to make a MET call. "The respiratory assessment is a key component to nursing skill and care," says Registered Nurse and academic, Jessica Stokes-Parish. "It is fundamental to a good nursing assessment and should be a part of your suite of skills. It takes time to develop, and should be a priority area of skill development. FEATURED JOBSThe A-G patient assessment method The A-G method is becoming a commonly used tool in primary and secondary care settings. It integrates the procedure mandated for resuscitation and emergency situations. However, it is also useful for systematic baseline patient assessment and can improve patient mortality in hospital. A-G covers: airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure, further information (including family and friends) and goals. Its systematic approach has been proven effective in identifying deteriorating patients or those at risk of deterioration. A respiratory assessment forms a key part of the A-G method. What is a respiratory assessment? A respiratory assessment forms part of the A-G model and is a way to assess the respiratory system function. It comprises the 'A' and 'B' of a physical assessment - airway and breathing. Airway assessment: The aim of airway assessment is to ensure that any obstruction of the anatomy of the airway is identified. The main causes of airway obstruction are:
Signs of partial airway obstruction include:
Breathing assessment: In a healthy patient, breathing should be:
During the breathing component of assessment, nurses must use the ‘Look, Listen and Feel’ technique. Looking for any respiratory distress signs, assessing the depth and pattern of the respiratory cycle for 15 seconds and counting the respiratory rate for a full minute is recommended. The acceptable oxygen saturation is >96% for patients without hypercapnic respiratory failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 88-92% for patients with those conditions or at risk of worsening hypercapnia. The patient’s ability to talk in full sentences is a good indicator of their breathing status. "A thorough respiratory assessment involves checking the respiratory rate, the symmetry, depth and sound (auscultation) of breathing, observes for accessory muscle use and tracheal deviation," says Ms Stokes-Parish. In addition to this, the assessor will check oxygen saturations (SpO2) and observe the colour of the skin. "Look at the way the chest rises and falls - how fast, is it equal, how deep, listen to the sound of the lungs - can you hear an audible sound, is air entry equal, are there any unusual sounds, and feel - place your hand on the chest, feel the depth of breathing, the symmetry." When is a MET (Medical Emergency Team) call required? Each hospital has their own policy and criteria for calling a Medical Emergency Team - in some states this is called a Rapid Response Team. "You should call a MET team if your patient has a respiratory rate outside of normal range, appears blue in the face or has a stridor - loud, noisy breathing caused by an obstruction to the throat. "If the patient fits all the normal criteria but you are still worried, you should call a MET anyway. "Another consideration is to compare the data you have collected to the previous set of observations, has it changed dramatically? If yes, it might be time for a MET.” MET call criteria:
Back to Basics If the patient can’t talk, or if you are waiting for the MET team to arrive, it's time to run through the basic life support algorithm: ABCDE. Here are some measures you can take before the MET team arrives.
Whilst doing the above, ideally another nurse on the ward should ensure that both the patient’s inpatient folder and medication/observations folder are by the bedside, ready for easy access by the doctors. Less Urgent Cases If your patient can talk, begin by taking a background:
Questions to ask your patient about their current symptoms:
The Paediatric Patient The ranges of acceptable respiratory rates are different in children - you should check the reference ranges prior to doing an assessment in a child. "Children are also more likely to occlude their airway due to the size of their tongue, and are more susceptible to airway obstruction," says Ms Stokes-Parish. "Additional signs of respiratory distress in children include nasal flaring and sternocleidomastoid contraction. "Pay particular attention to whether they have an obstructed airway, and call for help early." There are certain crucial things you’ll need to ask parents/guardians when they bring in a sick child/baby. Red flag signs of a sick child:
Things to look for on examination Basic Management
Sources:
Which assessment finding of the respiratory system is considered normal?The normal range of a respiratory rate for an adult is 12-20 breaths per minute at rest, and the normal range for oxygen saturation of the blood is 94–98% (SpO₂) Bradypnea is less than 12 breaths per minute, and tachypnea is greater than 20 breaths per minute.
Which assessment techniques would the nurse include when performing a physical assessment on a patient with an oxygenation problem?Assessing Oxygenation Status
A patient's oxygenation status is routinely assessed using pulse oximetry, referred to as SpO2 . SpO2 is an estimated oxygenation level based on the saturation of hemoglobin measured by a pulse oximeter.
Which assessment findings would the nurse expect in a patient in acute respiratory distress?The physical examination will include findings associated with the respiratory system, such as tachypnea and increased effort to breathe. Systemic signs may also be evident depending on the severity of illness, such as central or peripheral cyanosis resulting from hypoxemia, tachycardia, and altered mental status.
In which client should the nurse prioritize assessments for respiratory depression?In which client should the nurse prioritize assessments for respiratory depression? Explanation: Many medications affect the function of the respiratory system and depress the respiratory system. The nurse should monitor clients taking certain medications, such as opioids, for rate and depth of respirations.
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