Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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J Emerg Nurs
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Respiratory rate is the first sign of patient decline. Monitoring and recording respiratory rate are essential nursing competencies. However, health care system emergency nurses' ability to differentiate normal from abnormal respiratory rates was unknown. We conducted a health care improvement project to assess emergency nurses' accuracy in "spot" and "formal" assessments, understand assessment practices, and determine competency and training needs. ⋯ Respiratory rate assessment may be best assessed formally, particularly for bradypnea, where formal checks may outperform spot checks. The results present areas for improving respiratory rate assessment training and clinical practice.