What it means
One of the vital signsVY-tul SYNZThe basic body measurements: temperature, pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure, often with oxygen saturation and pain.Full entry . One breath in and one breath out count as one. A normal adult rate at rest is 12–20 breaths per minute; infants and children breathe faster. A rate that is too fast is tachypneatak-ip-NEE-uhA breathing rate faster than normal, above 20 breaths per minute in an adult.tachy- fast-pnea breathingFull entry and one that is too slow is bradypneabrad-ip-NEE-uhBreathing that is slower than normal for the person's age.brady- slow-pnea breathingFull entry . A change in breathing rate is often one of the first signs that a client is getting worse.
For the nurse
Count without telling the client, since people breathe differently when they know they are being watched; many nurses keep their fingers on the pulse while counting. Count for a full minute when the rhythm is irregular, and note depth, effort and pattern as well.
In a chart
"RR 28, shallow, using accessory muscles; SpO2 89%."
At a glance
| Normal range | 12–20 breaths per minute (adult at rest) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviations | RR; R |
| Spanish | frecuencia respiratoria |
| Also written | RR, respiratory rates, breathing rate |
Related terms
vital signs
The basic body measurements: temperature, pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure, often with oxygen saturation and pain.
respiration
Breathing air in and out, and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air, the blood and the cells.
tachypnea
A breathing rate faster than normal, above 20 breaths per minute in an adult.
apnea
A pause in breathing, or breathing that has stopped.
bradypnea
Breathing that is slower than normal for the person's age.