Journal Article Review
Holmesglen, TAFE
Diploma of Nursing
HLTEN606B Assess Clients and Manage Client Care
Journal Article Review
Report to: Susan Lanyon
Report by: Thirl Sande
Student ID: SAN11368205
Due Date: 15/8/2013
This paper examines reasons why respiratory rates are documented less often than other vital signs despite their importance and the author’s clinical experiences regarding it. Meredith and Massey (2010) stated that respiratory assessment should be done daily with other vital signs in patients who are admitted to the healthcare facility as changes in respiratory rate are an early indicator of serious illness and patient’s deterioration. However, studies reveal that some nurses do not believe respiratory assessment is essential on every patient admitted to hospital (Parkes 2011).
While studies by Meredith and Massey (2010) confirmed nurses neglect to conduct respiratory assessment due to poor understanding and lack of knowledge in relation to the techniques, the findings by Hogan (2006) confirmed it was difficult for nurses to count patients’ respirations without the patient being aware and changing their breathing pattern. Cretikos et al. (2008) stated that therefore nurses are unable to detect respiratory distress caused by medication side effects and reduced level of consciousness. This leads to poor patient’s outcomes such as shortness of breath, chest pain and lowered oxygen level.
Cretikos et al. (2008) stated that nurses do believe that pulse oximetry is an adequate monitoring of ventilation. However, pulse oximetry measurement has not been demonstrated to be a specific indicator of serious illness, and it lacks specificity. This is clear evidence that nurses lack the required skills and knowledge to undertake a comprehensive respiratory assessment (Meredith and Massey 2010).
All nurses are taught to do respiratory observations on every patient as initial and ongoing routine assessments. Nevertheless, what the author observed in her clinical placement was
Diploma of Nursing
HLTEN606B Assess Clients and Manage Client Care
Journal Article Review
Report to: Susan Lanyon
Report by: Thirl Sande
Student ID: SAN11368205
Due Date: 15/8/2013
This paper examines reasons why respiratory rates are documented less often than other vital signs despite their importance and the author’s clinical experiences regarding it. Meredith and Massey (2010) stated that respiratory assessment should be done daily with other vital signs in patients who are admitted to the healthcare facility as changes in respiratory rate are an early indicator of serious illness and patient’s deterioration. However, studies reveal that some nurses do not believe respiratory assessment is essential on every patient admitted to hospital (Parkes 2011).
While studies by Meredith and Massey (2010) confirmed nurses neglect to conduct respiratory assessment due to poor understanding and lack of knowledge in relation to the techniques, the findings by Hogan (2006) confirmed it was difficult for nurses to count patients’ respirations without the patient being aware and changing their breathing pattern. Cretikos et al. (2008) stated that therefore nurses are unable to detect respiratory distress caused by medication side effects and reduced level of consciousness. This leads to poor patient’s outcomes such as shortness of breath, chest pain and lowered oxygen level.
Cretikos et al. (2008) stated that nurses do believe that pulse oximetry is an adequate monitoring of ventilation. However, pulse oximetry measurement has not been demonstrated to be a specific indicator of serious illness, and it lacks specificity. This is clear evidence that nurses lack the required skills and knowledge to undertake a comprehensive respiratory assessment (Meredith and Massey 2010).
All nurses are taught to do respiratory observations on every patient as initial and ongoing routine assessments. Nevertheless, what the author observed in her clinical placement was