Breathing: Oxygen and Holland Et Al
Breathing is a critical component of respiration, a process in which life sustaining oxygen is delivered to all the cells in the body and carbon dioxide is removed and released into the air. Breathing difficulties are symptoms of a variety of mild to serious underlying disorders, diseases and conditions that interfere with normal respiration and breathing. Hence, the ability to carry out and document a full respiratory assessment is an essential skill for all nurses. While conducting the assessment, nurses must be able to recognise and assess symptoms of respiratory dysfunction to provide early, effective and appropriate interventions, thus improving client outcomes. In this essay will discuss the skills nurses must possess during a respiratory assessment and the nursing actions that assist clients in breathing.
It is vital that nurses have knowledge of the anatomy and physiological process of a healthy functioning pulmonary system, in order to carry out a respiratory assessment (Cox & McGrath 1999, p. 226). Breathing is the effort required to expand and contract the lungs. ‘Most individuals breathe unaided and independently from birth throughout their life span until the moment of death... It is the cessation of breathing that signifies death (Holland et al. 2008, p. 138). Breathing is usually the first vital sign to alter in a deteriorating client. This is why a respiratory assessment should be carried out by a nurse with a complete understanding of the system so they can diagnose and manage respiratory conditions in clients. Holland et al. (2008, p. 157) states that there are three phases involved in a respiratory assessment which include the collection of data, interpretation of the data, and identifying the clients actual and potential problems.
According to Hunter (2008, p. 41) before proceeding with a physical respiratory assessment, it is important that nurses obtain information that may be relevant to the client’s respiratory status such as
It is vital that nurses have knowledge of the anatomy and physiological process of a healthy functioning pulmonary system, in order to carry out a respiratory assessment (Cox & McGrath 1999, p. 226). Breathing is the effort required to expand and contract the lungs. ‘Most individuals breathe unaided and independently from birth throughout their life span until the moment of death... It is the cessation of breathing that signifies death (Holland et al. 2008, p. 138). Breathing is usually the first vital sign to alter in a deteriorating client. This is why a respiratory assessment should be carried out by a nurse with a complete understanding of the system so they can diagnose and manage respiratory conditions in clients. Holland et al. (2008, p. 157) states that there are three phases involved in a respiratory assessment which include the collection of data, interpretation of the data, and identifying the clients actual and potential problems.
According to Hunter (2008, p. 41) before proceeding with a physical respiratory assessment, it is important that nurses obtain information that may be relevant to the client’s respiratory status such as
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