Moderate

A patient has a respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute, shallow breathing, and increasing restlessness. Which finding should the nurse report first?

Correct answer: A. Respiratory rate of 30 per minute

  • A. Respiratory rate of 30 per minute
  • B. Mild dryness of the lips
  • C. Reduced appetite at breakfast
  • D. Difficulty sleeping overnight

Explanation

Tachypnoea with shallow breathing may indicate inadequate ventilation and developing hypoxaemia, so it requires prompt assessment and reporting. Restlessness can be an early sign of reduced oxygenation, making the breathing problem the priority.

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About Respiratory System

The respiratory system includes the air passages, lungs, pleura, alveoli and the mechanics of breathing. It explains pulmonary ventilation, gas exchange, oxygen and carbon dioxide transport, regulation of breathing, and the difference between external respiration in the lungs and internal respiration in body tissues.

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