When counting respirations, which practice should be avoided?

• A. Not telling the client you're counting breaths
• B. Explaining every breath aloud to the client
• C. Counting for two minutes
• D. Recording breaths after counting

Answer: (A)

Counting respirations should be done discreetly to avoid influencing the patient’s breathing. If you tell the patient that you’re counting or describe each breath aloud, their breathing pattern may change—pace, depth, or effort can shift when someone is watching, making the count less accurate. So, the practice to avoid is informing the patient that you’re counting their breaths. Instead, observe quietly for a full minute and then record the rate. The other options are less disruptive: explaining every breath aloud is distracting, counting for two minutes may be used for irregular breaths to improve accuracy, and recording after counting is standard practice.