Elliott. Int Arch Nurs Health Care 2016, 2:050 Volume 2 | Issue 3 International Archives of ISSN: 2469-5823 Nursing and Health Care Review: Open Access Why is Respiratory Rate the Neglected Vital Sign? A Narrative Review Malcolm Elliott* School of Health, Charles Darwin University, Melbourne, Australia *Corresponding author: Malcolm Elliott, RN, PhD, Lecturer, School of Health, Charles Darwin University, Melbourne, Australia, E-mail:
[email protected] Early identification of this change allows prompt intervention and Abstract thus reduces the risk of organ failure and death [10]. Tachypnoea Respiratory rate assessment is essential for detecting acute changes for example is one of the most significant predictors of in-hospital in a patient’s condition. Despite this, research has shown that it is the cardiac arrest and admission to intensive care [11]. The ability to most neglected vital sign in clinical practice. This literature review identify a deteriorating patient is also essential for avoiding poor identified three key reasons for this: inadequate knowledge regarding clinical outcomes and to ensure the effective intervention of rapid respiratory rate assessment; nurses’ perception of patient acuity; and lack of time. These factors suggest poor understanding of the response teams [12]. importance of respiratory rate as a vital sign. Despite its clinical importance, respiratory rate has consistently Although respiratory rate assessment is commonly neglected been the least frequently measured vital sign [13-15]. An audit of 211 in clinical practice, only three studies have explored the reasons adult post-operative patients in five Australian hospitals for example for this. It is not known what is taught at the undergraduate level found only 17% of medical records had complete documentation of regarding respiratory rate assessment.