An investigation into what influences nurses' practice to not take and record respiratory rate

This research sought to understand what influences Registered Nurses (RNs) to not take and record patients’ respiratory rate. It was an exploratory descriptive qualitative study based on semi-structured telephone interviews with ten RNs working in three hospitals within New Zealand. The interviews aimed to investigate their experiences around the practice of taking and recording patient respiratory rates. The analysis of the data was guided by Thomas’s (2006) general inductive approach to thematic analysis and ten themes were identified. Overall it was concluded that the reasons why RNs do not take and record patient respiratory rates are more complex than anticipated and there are many influences that impact on the RNs decision to not complete the practice. Four main conclusions could be made from this research. The first concerns the impact that electronic observation equipment has on the taking and recording of respiratory rate, as the use of the equipment isolates respiratory rate as the only manual vital sign. The second conclusion is that respiratory rate measures do not seem to be valued by RNs as an important vital sign. The third conclusion concerns the change in nursing practice, highlighted in the study by the reporting of constant work interruptions and time constraints placed on the RN. Also contributing to changes in nursing practice is the observation that some RNs do not regularly wear a watch to undertake the taking and recording of respiratory rate. The fourth conclusion is that, despite the introduction of EWS systems internationally, this study highlighted certain situations in which respiratory rate is not taken or recorded. The results of the research suggest two recommendations for future nursing practice. One is that electronic observation equipment be removed from hospital wards and there be a return to manual vital sign recording. Secondly, there be a review of RN educational practices to address a lack of understanding of the respiratory function as an early indicator for detecting deterioration in a patient’s medical condition post medication administration and /or clinical procedure. Current practice appears to be putting vulnerable patients at risk.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Nursing

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Grantor

Eastern Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Garton, Helen

• New Zealand
• registered nurses
• respiratory rates
• influences
• experience
• interviews

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6537

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10652/6537