How should a healthcare provider determine a patient's respiratory rate?

To accurately determine a patient's respiratory rate, it is essential for the healthcare provider to observe the patient's breathing without the patient being aware of the observation. This ensures that the respiratory rate reflects the patient's natural, unaltered breathing pattern rather than one influenced by anxiety or the act of counting.

Counting respirations while the patient believes they are obtaining their pulse effectively allows the provider to observe the rise and fall of the chest without drawing attention to the act of counting respirations. This method promotes a more reliable measurement of the respiratory rate, as the patient is less likely to modify their breathing in the presence of the provider.

Other options, such as asking the patient to take deep breaths or instructing them to breathe normally, might cause the patient to alter their breathing pattern, which would interfere with obtaining an accurate respiratory rate. Measuring the respiratory rate while the patient is at rest is a good practice, but it should be done surreptitiously to avoid influencing the patient's natural breathing rhythm.