According to Loughlin (2018) respiratory rate is probably the most important vital sign that is often missed or recorded inaccurately, which can often lead to poor outcomes for the patient worsening. The importance of counting for a full minute allows the practitioner to fully evaluate the patient using the four-step process. This involves inspecting, observing the color and appearance of the entire person. Palpation, the position of the person looking at the affected area of the trachea, seeing that there is a distortion of the trachea or neck. Percussion, how the person sounds during inhalation and exhalation and Auscultation which examines the quality and rate of respiratory effort. By following these guidelines the professional can identify any anomalies. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay When I chose this topic, I felt I had a relatively good understanding of respiratory rate. However, as I read the articles and reports, I found that I only had basic knowledge. This left me feeling a little lost as to where I wanted to go with this essay. This has led me to question my skills as an associate nursing apprentice and whether I really have what it takes to qualify in two years' time. I suddenly realized that perhaps my experience wasn't as in depth as I had initially thought, and that perhaps it was too soon after my level three qualification to be thinking about the next stage of my nursing career. My anxieties crept in the more I read, the more I felt out of my depth, some of these articles were so in depth I didn't fully understand them. Somehow I remained positive during these doubtful weeks. Reflecting on my learning journey, I must admit that it has been an extremely difficult few weeks. Learning to use the Digital Learning Environment (DLE) or Moodle and finding your way around the site, accessing the library (Primo) has gradually become easier. I can easily navigate the site to find relevant articles when I need them. I understand that this is a professional obligation and that continuous learning forms part of our standards of competence in our contract of employment with the Nursing Associate Apprentice Trust. This is vital to my growth as I continue my learning journey. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2018) state requires nurses and midwives to use feedback as an opportunity for reflection and learning to improve practice. I have to admit, as a medical assistant greeting patients at the medical assessment unit, when we were completely overloaded I would take the respiratory rate by counting for 30 seconds and multiplying by 2 to get a full reading. Since becoming an Associate Nursing Trainee and reading articles and papers, I now have a newfound passion and regardless of the constraints I face, I now do a thorough reading, having a new understanding of the importance of respiration rates. I have also found that because we will be accountable and regulated, I respect clinical guidelines in every aspect of my role. That's not to say I didn't do it before, I feel like I have a growing sense of pride in what I do now. I also feel more able to help others who may not understand the implications because I am now equipped with more knowledge to support my findings. I now work more closely to clinical guidelines and have found that counting respiratory rates for afull minute also allows me to observe the patient based on a holistic approach. I have never been academically minded and have always struggled to put into words what I thought it can do. However, as I researched the importance of critical reflection, it was reassuring to discover that I am not alone in this. I made the mistake of handwriting my entire guided learning package instead of writing directly on the package, this was my preferred method of doing this type of activity. However, with the depth of knowledge needed for this I now know that the handwritten note form is the way to go as I have unintentionally doubled my workload. I now feel competent and confident in educating others on the importance of accurately recording respiratory rate, improving patient experience. I need to be more confident that I know what I'm doing and that I deserve to take this course. I have to approach every task in a positive way, it's okay to have basic knowledge, this is a foundation to work on. It's an honor to take this course and I can do it no matter what my anxieties tell me. I need to open up a little more, let people know that I'm struggling with some aspects of this too. Many of my colleagues think I have a good understanding of this project, when in reality I had no idea either. I'm seen as the mom of the group, so I felt I had to be strong and help everyone, while at the same time neglecting my own worries and difficulties. I know there is support out there for me and I need to stop being so stubborn and ask for help when I need it, as this ultimately hinders my learning journey. Breathing is more than just speed. Inspiration, taking the breath. When you breathe in or out, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward. This increases space in the chest cavity, into which the lungs expand. The intercostal muscles between the ribs also help widen the chest cavity. They contract to pull the rib cage up and out when you inhale. Gas exchange occurs in the millions of alveoli of the lungs and in the capillaries that surround them. Inhaled oxygen moves from the alveoli to the blood in the capillaries, and carbon dioxide moves from the blood in the capillaries to the air in the alveoli and then exhaled. Respiration is the production of energy, typically by taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. On exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward into the chest cavity. The intercostal muscles between the ribs also relax to reduce the space in the chest cavity. As space in the chest cavity shrinks, carbon dioxide is expelled from the lungs and trachea, then from the nose or mouth. These phases will allow us to see if there are any reportable irregularities. Breathing should be effortless, we must look for ease, comfort, pattern and position. Although studies show that there is no link between breathing rate and position. While we observe the rate and rhythm we should also observe the color and general appearance of our patients, listening for any abnormal sounds. This will meet what is recognized as the gold standard in EWS. The early warning scoring protocol was introduced in 2012 and updated in 2017 after finding numerous reports. there was no way to spot a worsening patient. It was designed to systematically evaluate each of the physiological measurements. Depending on the score, the level of observation necessary is determined, promoting early recognition of people at risk of becoming seriously ill. The lower the EWS score, the less likely the risk of events is, .
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