Respiration

(re-spi-ra’-shun). Breathing. In counting a patient’s respiration, hide the fact of what you are doing; for instance, when pretending to take the pulse, note the respirations. They should be in infants 50 to the minute, in children 36, in adults 16. Note whether the breathing is shallow or from low down, whether it is regular or intermittent. Note in which position it is easiest, and if accompanied by any noise such as the crowing of croup, or the snoring due to enlarged tonsils.